The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey indicates that Limpopo had the lowest HIV prevalence levels among all the provinces in 2022.
The council released the key findings of the Sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey in Polokwane.
The figures are down from 10.1% in 2017 to 8.9% in 2022.
This translates to an estimated 570 000 people living with HIV in the province.
Key findings
Although Limpopo has the lowest HIV prevalence, the findings also showed that in 2022, HIV prevalence in the province was disproportionately higher among the 25 to 49 age group.
Females in this age group have recorded a prevalence of 22.3% with the males recording 17%.
The survey also revealed that 11.4% of people aged 15 years and older in Limpopo were reported to have multiple sexual partners in 2022, a decrease from 12.0% in 2017.
Notably, 18.5% of men were 3.7 times more likely to report having multiple sexual partners than 5% of women.
The highest proportion of multiple sexual partners was found among those aged between 15 and 24 years, compared to other age groups.
HSRC Principal Investigator, Professor Khangelani Zuma, says although the HIV prevalence has decreased, it doesn’t mean that people should not use protection.
“The decline in HIV prevalence in a country can happen because of, I would say two reasons. For example, one of them could be that if you have a particular group of people living with HIV, if people die because of HIV, or more people die who are living with HIV than other people, then the prevalence will go down because the prevalence is the burden of disease…it is the proportion of people that live with an infection; that’s one of the reasons where we can see decline.”
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has expressed optimism about the progress made by the country in combating HIV.
Dr John Blandford from the CDCP says the findings are encouraging.
“The findings that have already been disseminated at the national level are encouraging and demonstrate how South Africa’s HIV policies and programs have contributed to a stabilising HIV epidemic, increasing levels of population, viral load suppression, and promising trends in HIV prevalence and incidents among adolescent girls and young women. The survey has also helped us understand where we have made great progress and which areas we need to focus on in the future. With this data, we can strengthen our programs on HIV prevention, including testing, especially for men and youth.”
More details in the report below:
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