National HIV incidence measures - new insights into the South African epidemic

Abstract

Currently South Africa does not have national HIV incidence data based on laboratory testing of blood specimens. The 2005 South African National household survey was analysed to generate national incidence estimates stratifies by age, sex, race, province and locality type, to compare the HIV incidence and HIV prevalence profiles by sex, and to examine the relationship between HIV prevalence, HIV incidence and associated risk factors The HIV incidence estimates reflect the underlying transmission dynamics that are currently at work in South Africa. The findings suggest that the current prevention campaign are not having the desired impact, particularly among women.