Key findings from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) have disclosed that Mpumalanga province has the highest HIV prevalence compared to other provinces.
Speaking on POWER Breakfast, Chief Research Specialist in the Public Health, Societies and Belonging (PHSB) research division of the HSRC, Dr Sean Jooste said that since 2002, Mpumalanga has had the highest prevalence hence, they do not anticipate a decline as that would indicate that people are not receiving their prescribed care.
“So we expect the high prevalence to remain for some time, the idea is that the prevalence should drop in the younger group and that the interventions should focus on the young group.”
Jooste added that only 50% of the youth in Mpumalanga are receiving treatment, which is the current issue.
“In general, we have not found that stigma has increased, so people have very positive attitudes towards people living with HIV,” mentioned Jooste.
Finding HIV-positive people so they can begin treatment, according to Jooste, is their main priority at the moment.
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