Estimated HIV deaths in South Africa: 2 106 935 as at April 18 2007
Young Ugandans living with HIV prefer to date partners who are not HIV-positive. This was revealed in a study among adolescents living with HIV at the Paediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic (PIDC) in Mulago, Kampala.
Presenting the adolescent sexuality study, Dr Sabrina Bakeera-Kitaka, the head of adolescent programmes at PIDC, said these young people have matured to a stage where thoughts of having children and founding families come naturally. And for this, they prefer partners who are HIV-negative for fear of re-infection. The desire to have children is a barrier to protection.
Bakeera said: ‘Others have difficulties with disclosure when they get a new sexual partner and this, coupled with the partner pressure to have unprotected sex, risks further spread of the disease.”
Source: New Vision