This article is from Botswana Daily News... The results of the latest HIV/AIDS Prevalence study don't look good. Let's hope that with the increase of Peace Corps Volunteers coming into Botswana there will be some positive changes on the horizon.
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Survey indicates prevalence rate increase
By Tshegofatso Sentsho
GABORONE - The 2008 HIV/AIDS impact survey shows that the national prevalence rate has increased by 0.5 per cent.
The prevalence rate increased to 17.6 per cent from 17.1 per cent in 2004.
The preliminary results also indicate an overall increase in HIV prevalence for both males and females from 2004 BAIS.
Speaking at the release of the report in Gaborone yesterday, the chief demographer at the Central Statistics Office, Dr Peter-Ubomba-Jaswa said urban villages are the least infected while towns remain the most infected.
The survey also showed that the HIV/AIDS incidence rate was at 2.9 per cent, with males and females accounting for 2.3 and 3.5 per cent respectively. The incidence rate measures the degree of new HIV transmission.
On age groups, Dr Ubomba-Jaswa said HIV prevalence rate ranged from 2.2 per cent in babies up to 4 years old to 40.6 per cent in the 40 to 44 year age group. He added that prevalence rate increases sharply with age peaking at those between 30 to 45 years and gradually declining with age.
Comparing with the 2004 impact survey, Dr Ubomba-Jaswa said the peak was seen in the 25 to 39 age groups, but has since shifted to the 30 to 45 year age group. He added that this is the age group with the highest rate of new HIV infections. He noted that the 45 to 49 year age group has the highest HIV incidence rate of 7.3 per cent while the 15 to 19 age group has the lowest incidence rate of 0.7 per cent.
Dr Ubomba-Jaswa added that the estimated 17.9 per cent HIV prevalence rate in urban areas is slightly higher than the rural areas at 17.1 per cent. He, however, said when towns are singled out they have a much higher HIV prevalence rate (22.1) per cent than other urban areas. The two cities are estimated at 19.1 per cent while urban villages are at 16.6 per cent.
Dr Ubomba-Jaswa said HIV prevalence rate also deferred according to districts with Kweneng West recording the lowest rate at 10.3 per cent while Selebi-Phikwe recorded the highest as 26.5 per cent. He added that in some districts, the HIV incidence rate appears not to be consistent with the prevalence rate. He cited Kweneng West as having a low HIV prevalence rate but a relatively high HIV incidence rate of 3.5 per cent.
Dr Ubomba-Jaswa said Selebi-Phikwe continues to have one of the highest HIV prevalence and incidence rates in the country while the Chobe District has a high HIV prevalence rate but a low incidence rate. He said Mahalapye has the lowest HIV incidence rate of 0.9 per cent while Bobonong has the highest rate at 5.6 per cent.
On educational levels, Dr Ubomba-Jaswa said the preliminary results show that the prevalence rate decreases steadily as education level increases.
He said those with no education or non formal education have the highest HIV prevalence rates of 28.4 per cent and 28.6 per cent respectively whilst those with tertiary education have a low prevalence rate of 16.3 per cent.
He also said the HIV prevalence rate is highest among those who are widowed (39.6 per cent) and lowest in those who have never married (16.1 per cent). He added that the HIV incidence rates are highest among the widowed (4.7 per cent) and lowest among those who never married (3.2 per cent).
On prevention, he said 56 per cent of the country's population aged between 10 and 64 years has tested themselves for HIV/AIDS at least once. He added that in the 12 months preceding the survey, 34 per cent of the general population had tested for HIV/AIDS and were informed of the results.
On knowledge and behaviour, Dr Ubomba-Jaswa said among the 15-24 year age group, 43 per cent correctly identified ways of preventing HIV transmission.
He said with respect to attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS, 65 per cent said they would share a meal with a person living with HIV/AIDS, care for a family member suffering from AIDS, and would allow a HIV positive teacher to teach their children. He added that they said they would also buy vegetables from a HIV positive shopkeeper.
Dr Ubomba-Jaswa further said the impact survey shows that 16 per cent of males in the age group 30-49 is circumcised.
Contributing to the deliberations, the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) coordinator, Mr Batho Molomo, said his agency will launch the impact survey statistical report next month.
He said following the launch, they will convene a workshop in July to prepare for a policy report. He added that his organisation intends to work with four districts to conduct lower level district focused analysis to promote the utilisation of the report for informing decision making at that level.
The main objective of the 2008 impact survey, was to provide up to date information on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Botswana with respect to its prevalence, incidence as well as behavioural patterns and knowledge, care and support, attitude toward people living with HIV/AIDS as well as socio-economic, demographic, household and living conditions associated with the disease.
He said in the 2008 survey, unlike the previous ones, blood samples were collected from willing respondents for the determination of HIV/AIDS prevalence and incidence.
This week we had a visit from 16 volunteers from the British High Commission in Gaborone, and what a fun and busy day we had! The day started off with one group of volunteers and Stepping Stones Staff planting a variety of donated trees and shrubs around the grounds at the centre, while another helped lay bricks for a shelter for the security guard (an essential since the weather is starting to get particularly chilly). After the tough manual labor, staff were trained in basic first aid procedures and some computer skills. Once the kids arrived in the afternoon, the volunteers put them to work cooking a variety of different foods- cottage pie (ground beef covered in mashed potatoes and cheese), butternut squash soup, and cupcakes. Meanwhile other kids competed against each other in a quiz show. I found it really cute that one of the teams chose "Leslie" as their team name, while everyone else chose names like the Cheetahs or Elephants. All this excitement was followed by a group dance party, very entertaining to see everyone show off their moves (I've taken note and will try to be more adventurous next time I get a chance to dance). At the end of the day the High Commission donated t-shirts to all kids and staff and thanks were given all around. A busy and exciting day!
