Implementation of regional and international HIV prevention - SAfAIDS

3.0 OVERVIEW OF THE HIV AND AIDS SITUATIONThis section sheds light on the extent of the HIV and AIDS crisis in the two countries. Swazilandand Zambia may be geographically relatively close, yet the social, political and cultural settingsindicate differences that determine how the epidemic may have been managed.3.1 Overview of the HIV and AIDS situation in Swaziland3.1. 1 ContextDemographic information shows that Swaziland is one of the southern African countries witha low population of just about 1,141,000 in 2007. The annual growth rate is about negative four,indicating that the country has not been growing or that the population is decreasing, partlydue to deaths that are mainly caused by AIDS. Life expectancy at birth is estimated at 42 yearswhile in every 100,000 births 112 children die. See the fact sheet below:Table 1: Demographic Facts for SwazilandDemographic Facts for SwazilandDemographic Data Year EstimateTotal Population 2007 1,141,000Population aged 15 - 49 2007 582,000Female population aged 15-24 2007 143,000Annual population growth 2005 - 2010 -0.4Maternal mortality ratio (100,000 live births) 2005 390Life expectancy at birth 2006 42Under 5 mortality rate (100,000 live births) 2006 164Infant mortality ratio (100,000 live births) 2006 42Infant mortality (100,000 live births) 2006 112Under 5 mortality rate (100,000 live births) 2006 164Source: WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF Epidemiological Fact Sheet on HIV and AIDS Swaziland update Report 200818UNGASS and DHS reports also show that women (31%) are more likely to be HIV positive thanmen (20%). The HIV and AIDS situation has worsened over the years since the first reportedAIDS case in 1986. This, as reported by the GoS, is attributed to the unwillingness of the Swazipopulation to change their sexual behaviour (National Multi-sectoral HIV and AIDS PolicyDocument, 2006).The practice of multiple concurrent casual heterosexual partners which is predominant inSwaziland is mainly responsible for the spread of HIV 2. Between 1992 and 2004, an increase (3.9%to 42.9%) in the percentage of women who tested HIV positive was registered. Although resultsfrom the Sentinel Surveillance Report 2004 showed that this figure had slightly reduced to 39.2%,it is still one of the highest prevalences among women in the world, and researchers concurredthat this did not mean a decline in prevalence, but merely increased accuracy in estimation.