UN agency for HIV/AIDS reports encouraging 5-year decline of the disease in Zimbabwe
A preliminary review of HIV incidence and prevalence in Zimbabwe has indicated a decline over the past five years,
possibly due to a decrease in the number of sexual partners, and increased condom use, the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said today.
While calling this development “encouraging,” the agency stressed the need to ensure that the downward trend in Zimbabwe
is sustained.
According to their initial review, which will be published in December, the prevalence of HIV among pregnant women
declined from 24.6 per cent to 21.3 per cent in the past 5 years, and other research points to the same positive
indicators.
The results “suggest that several elements of behaviour changes may have played a part in the apparent decline,” said
the agency, including the possible reduction in the number of sexual partners in recent years, and an increase in condom
use among non-regular partners.
UNAIDS said it will work with partners in Zimbabwe to ascertain the interventions that led to the decline, and to make
sure that they are sustained.
The positive indicators notwithstanding, the agency called for continued vigilance in Zimbabwe where HIV prevalence
rates are still among the highest in the world. It warned that infection rates could start rising again if underlying
factors contributing to unsafe sexual behaviour, including gender inequality, poverty and population mobility, are not
sufficiently addressed.