Health Dept hope latest HIV stats help fight epidemic
Health authorities say they hope the latest figures on HIV prevalence will help them strengthen interventions in response to the epidemic.
The Human Sciences Research Council on Monday released the results of its HIV Prevalence Survey.
It found the percentage of people living with HIV in South Africa decreased slightly from 14% in 2017 to 12.7% in 2022.
According to the study, almost 7.8 million people were living with the virus in the country last year.
KZN had the highest prevalence of HIV cases and the highest number of people on antiviral treatment.
The study also found that South Africa has made significant progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets that people know their status are on treatment and have viral suppression by 2025.
HIV prevalence in women aged 25 to 29 years was three times higher compared to men in the same age group.
The survey also revealed gaps that remain in addressing the HIV epidemic among people aged 15 years and older and how unequal its impact is across regions, population groups, mainly affecting black Africans, women, and young people.
“The results will also assist the department and stakeholders in resource mobilisation and allocation, especially in gaps identified to be in a better position to rearrange our landscape so that we plug the holes where the gaps are greatest,” said Foster Mohale, who is the spokesperson for the Department of Health.
