HIV and AIDS Information

HIV and AIDS Information

According to the data from Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS) 2007 - 2008, the national prevalence among the sexually active populations (between 15 and 49 years of age) is reported to be 5.7 %. The data shows more women (6.6 %) are infected than men (4.6%).
Compared with HIV prevalence data from the 2003-04 THIS, there has been a slight decrease in overall prevalence of HIV among sexually active population between 15 and 49 years of age from 7.0% (2003 -04) to 5.7% (2007 -08).
There is also a decrease in prevalence from 6.3% (2003-04), to 4.6% (2007-08) for men and 7.7% (2003-04) to 6.6% (2007-08) for women.
Drivers of the epidemic

1. Promiscuous sexual behaviour
2. Intergerational sex
3. Concurrent sexual partners
4. Presence of other sexually transmitted infections such as herpes simplex x 2 virus.
5. Lack of knowledge of HIV transmission

Contextual factors shaping the epidemic in the country

1. Poverty and transactional sex with increasing numbers of commercial sex workers
2. Men's irresponsible sexual behaviour due to cultural patterns of virility
3. Social, economic and political gender inequalities including violence against women
4. Substance abuse such as alcohol consumption
5. Local cultural practices e.g. widow cleansing
6. Mobility in all its forms which leads to separation of spouses and increased establishment of temporary sexual relationships
7. Lack of male circumcision