The HIV epidemic in South Africa
South Africa has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world.
Since 1990, the Department of Health has undertaken a series of annual unlinked, anonymous HIV surveys amongst women attending antenatal clinics of the Public Health Services in South Africa.
HIV Prevalence trends in South Africa 1990-1999
Estimates of the national HIV prevalence for the years 1990 to 1998
show a steady increase from 0.7% in 1990 to 22.8% in 1998. This indicates
an increase of more than 30 times from the beginning of the
epidemic.
The 1999 estimate (22.4%) suggests that the overall HIV prevalence
rates have not increased, but there may be a slight change in the the
epidemiological trends of the HIV epidemic in South Africa.
Levels of HIV infection vary across different geographic regions in South Africa. Of the nine provinces, KwaZulu/Natal continues to be the province with the highest prevalence which showed an increase from 19.90% in 1996 to 32.5% in 1998, but no further increase in 1999. In contrast, the Western Cape, whilst remaining the province with the lowest level of infection, shows a 36.5% rate of increase from 5.2% in 1998 to 7.1% in 1999
W. Cape |
E. Cape |
N. Cape |
Free State |
Kwazulu/ Natal |
Mpumu- langa |
Northern Province |
Gauteng |
North West |
|
| 1996 | 3.1 |
8.1 |
6.5 |
17.5 |
19.9 |
15.8 |
7.9 |
15.5 |
25.1 |
| 1997 | 6.3 |
12.6 |
8.6 |
19.6 |
26.9 |
22.6 |
8.2 |
17.1 |
18.1 |
| 1998 | 5.2 |
15.9 |
9.9 |
22.8 |
32.5 |
30.0 |
11.5 |
22.5 |
21.3 |
| 1999 | 7.1 |
18.0 |
10.1 |
27.9 |
32.5 |
27.3 |
11.4 |
23.9 |
23.0 |
Figures given as percentage estimated HIV infection (95% CI).
Taking into consideration that the survey was limited to women of child bearing age, estimates reflect only 15-49 year-olds.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Data made available by the Department of Health of the Republic
of South Africa . Sampling and testing done with the participation of
provincial co-ordinators, SA Blood Transfusion Services; SAIMR laboratories;
Virology Departments of Cape Town and Natal Universities, the NIV, MEDUNSA,
Makweng Provincial Laboratory of the Northern Province and MRC.
Page prepared by Linda Stannard, February 2001.