Aaron Motsoaledi
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South Africa: HIV-prevalence among pregnant women records increase
Funke Atohengbe, Pretoria
HIV-prevalence among pregnant women in South Africa has increased from 29.4 per cent to 30.2 per cent.
Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, said the increase among pregnant women between the ages of 16 and 24 years was minimal in this year’s report.
‘Increase of the virus’
Releasing the National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence survey in Pretoria on Tuesday, Motsoaledi, however, said there had been an increase of the virus between the ages of 24 and 39.
"We're still far from winning the war, but we are getting somewhere," Motsoaledi said.
He applauded the prevention methods used in addressing HIV infections rates among the youths as reasons the number had stayed within the "confidence interval".
In the last five years, the department had set a target of prevalence estimates between 29.4 and 30.9 per cent.
The South African Health Minister attributed the high HIV prevalence in the older category to a lack of ARVs and counselling.
"We must accept the number of people on ARVs as we need to... decrease infections," he said.
According to the survey, KwaZulu-Natal Province still had the highest prevalence of HIV-infected pregnant women, while the Northern and Western Cape were the lowest.
Motsoaledi said while the figures were still within the government's parameters, the Department would continue to increase its ARV rollout and HIV/Aids prevention strategies.
"We believe our prevention methods might be reaching stability. With the younger ones the prevention methods may be working," Motsoaledi said.
Williams
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