The Kingdom of Swaziland faces an enormous challenge -- preventing and controlling the alarming growth of the HIV/AIDS epidemic which is growing at an alarming rate.
The first HIV case was officially reported in 1986, and since then, the number of AIDS cases has been increasing dramatically every year. HIV infection levels among pregnant women attending selected maternal clinics increased rapidly from 3.9% in 1992 to 42.6% in 2004. There is evidence of prevalence stabilizing as it shifted from 42.6% in 2004 to 39.2% in 2006 and is at 42% in 2008.
This AIDS epidemic is characterized by increased morbidity and mortality as well as an increased number of orphans. The demand for health services has also increased, surpassing the resource capacity for health care. Life expectancy has declined from age 55 in the late ‘80s to about 34 years currently. In 2005, the number of orphans was estimated at 70,000 children. This number is projected to increase to 120,000 by 2010. In 2009 Swaziland has the World’s highest HIV prevalence rate of 26% (31% women and 20% men) among people aged 15-49 years, and has a high estimated HIV incidence rate of 3% compared to other countries in the region. This means that, of every 100 HIV-negative persons in Swaziland, 3 will become infected with HIV every year. In 2008, an estimated 44 HIV-negative adults were infected every day
It is essential to focus on HIV incidence when determining the effectiveness of HIV prevention programmes. A “mission critical” objective is to lower the annual incidence rate, so as to reduce the number of newly-infected persons every year.
This AIDS epidemic is characterized by increased morbidity and mortality as well as an increased number of orphans. The demand for health services has also increased, surpassing the resource capacity for health care. Life expectancy has declined from age 55 in the late ‘80s to about 34 years currently. In 2005, the number of orphans was estimated at 70,000 children. This number is projected to increase to 120,000 by 2010. In 2009 Swaziland has the World’s highest HIV prevalence rate of 26% (31% women and 20% men) among people aged 15-49 years, and has a high estimated HIV incidence rate of 3% compared to other countries in the region. This means that, of every 100 HIV-negative persons in Swaziland, 3 will become infected with HIV every year. In 2008, an estimated 44 HIV-negative adults were infected every day
It is essential to focus on HIV incidence when determining the effectiveness of HIV prevention programmes. A “mission critical” objective is to lower the annual incidence rate, so as to reduce the number of newly-infected persons every year.
BACKGROUND