HIV Prevalence in South Africa May be on Decline

The prevalence of HIV virus in South Africa may be on the decline.This follows a finding by the country's National HIV and Syphilis Antenatal Sero-prevalence Survey for 2005 that HIV infection rates have remained at a similar level as they had been in 2004 (29.5 per cent) and in 2005 (30.2 per cent).

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said today while the latest finding was 'encouraging', there was still a great deal of work needed to be done to ensure that new infections no longer took place.

'One of the greatest challenges facing South Africans is a serious commitment by all to prevention methods to ensure that new infections are curbed,' she said.

The survey, released by the Health Department, is conducted annually among pregnant women attending antenatal care for the first time, to estimate HIV and syphilis prevalence in the country.

The Department said, the provincial estimates remain similar to the 2004 trends and the age estimates show that participants in the 20 to early 30 year age groups continue to have the highest infection rates.

Source:PTI News