Uganda: HIV/Aids Prevalence Higher in Rural Areas
By, Kakaire A. Kirunda, The Monitor (Kampala), November 24, 2006
A 2006 Unaids report that was released on Tuesday presents mixed fortunes for Uganda in her fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic.
The report, which was jointly produced with the World Health Organisation, shows fear of a possible erosion of the gains the country has so far made against the killer disease.
Urban rural gap
As one of the setbacks, the report shows that the HIV prevalence has risen in rural areas compared to urban centres where the predominance of the pandemic has reduced.
It is noted that HIV prevalence has fallen sharply among pregnant women in Kampala from the early 1990s to the early 2000s due to significant behaviour change and increased mortality.
"However, in some rural areas, there is new evidence of an increase in HIV infection. Prevalence rose from 5.6 per cent in men and 6.9 per cent in women in 2000 to 6.5 per cent in men and 8.8 per cent in women in 2004 according to data gathered in a study done in 25 villages," says the report.
It further notes that a similar trend dating to 2002, was found among pregnant women in half of the antenatal surveillance sites included in the study.
The rural study, as highlighted in the report, says HIV incidence in older men and women aged between 40 to 49 years has increased since 2000 as seen in the 2004-2005 national HIV household survey, which showed high infection levels among middle-aged Ugandans.
ARVs treatment value
The report cites recent study findings from rural Tororo, which show that people receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment have significantly less risk of transmitting HIV after two years of treatment.
This was found to be partly due to a strong reduction in viral load and less frequent unprotected sex.
According to Unaids, national adult HIV prevalence was 6.7 percent (5.7-7.6 per cent) in 2005.
The disease was found to be significantly higher among women (nearly 8 per cent) compared to men at 5 per cent.
The report estimates that between 850,000 and 1.2 million Ugandans were living with HIV/Aids by the end of 2005.
And at regional level, according to the Ministry of Health, prevalence was lowest in the West Nile (2 per cent) and northeast with ( 4 per cent) and highest in Kampala's central and north-central regions (over 8 per cent).
Unaids says further research is needed to validate these trends but the current findings do hint at the possible erosion of the gains Uganda made against HIV/Aids in the 1990s.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200611270926.html
A 2006 Unaids report that was released on Tuesday presents mixed fortunes for Uganda in her fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic.
The report, which was jointly produced with the World Health Organisation, shows fear of a possible erosion of the gains the country has so far made against the killer disease.
Urban rural gap
As one of the setbacks, the report shows that the HIV prevalence has risen in rural areas compared to urban centres where the predominance of the pandemic has reduced.
It is noted that HIV prevalence has fallen sharply among pregnant women in Kampala from the early 1990s to the early 2000s due to significant behaviour change and increased mortality.
"However, in some rural areas, there is new evidence of an increase in HIV infection. Prevalence rose from 5.6 per cent in men and 6.9 per cent in women in 2000 to 6.5 per cent in men and 8.8 per cent in women in 2004 according to data gathered in a study done in 25 villages," says the report.
It further notes that a similar trend dating to 2002, was found among pregnant women in half of the antenatal surveillance sites included in the study.
The rural study, as highlighted in the report, says HIV incidence in older men and women aged between 40 to 49 years has increased since 2000 as seen in the 2004-2005 national HIV household survey, which showed high infection levels among middle-aged Ugandans.
ARVs treatment value
The report cites recent study findings from rural Tororo, which show that people receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment have significantly less risk of transmitting HIV after two years of treatment.
This was found to be partly due to a strong reduction in viral load and less frequent unprotected sex.
According to Unaids, national adult HIV prevalence was 6.7 percent (5.7-7.6 per cent) in 2005.
The disease was found to be significantly higher among women (nearly 8 per cent) compared to men at 5 per cent.
The report estimates that between 850,000 and 1.2 million Ugandans were living with HIV/Aids by the end of 2005.
And at regional level, according to the Ministry of Health, prevalence was lowest in the West Nile (2 per cent) and northeast with ( 4 per cent) and highest in Kampala's central and north-central regions (over 8 per cent).
Unaids says further research is needed to validate these trends but the current findings do hint at the possible erosion of the gains Uganda made against HIV/Aids in the 1990s.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200611270926.html
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 11:13 am
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