Research suggests that South Africa’s HIV epidemic has levelled off, with a noted decline in new infections among teenagers aged 15 to 19.
The findings of the third national HIV prevalence, incidence and communication survey conducted in 2008 also suggests that the prevalence rate is currently at 10,9% for people aged two years and older, with 5,2 million people estimated to be living with HIV in 2008.
“This latest survey provides us with an opportunity to understand the HIV epidemic over time, and there are promising findings of a changing pattern of HIV infection among children and youth”, said Dr Olive Shisana, one of the two principal investigators of the study.
“The good news is that the change in HIV prevalence in children is most likely attributable to the successful implementation of several HIV-prevention interventions,” Shisana said.
These interventions are related to addressing HIV in early childhood, particularly programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission in the Western Cape, where the largest decline of 6 percentage points occurred.
Professor Thomas Rehle, the other principal investigator of the study, emphasised that “we may witness for the first time a decrease in HIV incidence among teenagers”.
The study, by the Human Sciences Research Council, suggests that HIV prevalence among adults aged 15-49 has declined between 2002 and 2008 in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Northern Cape and the Free State, with the largest decline of 7,9 percentage points in the Western Cape.
The report further stated: “The percentage of people in the 15 to 49 age group who reported an awareness of their status has doubled from 2005 to 2008. This is attributed to communication programmes that promoted knowledge of HIV status and the increase availability of voluntary counseling and testing services”.
However, Shisana was keen to point out that several challenges remain in the fight against the epidemic, particularly in relation to young people.
“Our efforts in the coming period need to focus on key drivers of the epidemic,” said Shisana.
The challenges include curbing the rise of intergenerational sexual relationships which exposes teenage girls to a group of older males with a higher HIV prevalence.