HIV AND AIDS INFORMATION IN TANZANIA...

            FACTS, STATISTICS AND MYTHS

  According to the data from

   Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS) 2007 - 2008,

    the national prevalence among the sexually active population (between 15 and 49 years of age) is reported to be 5.7 %     The data shows more women (6.6 %) are infected than men 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

PREVENTION AND EDUCATION
The HIV epidemic in Tanzania is the result of a complex interplay between biological, socio-cultural and socio-economic factors. The strategies outlined here aim to decrease the risk of infection among the general population, with special attention to young people, both through enhancing knowledge and skills and through making relevant health services more accessible and youth friendly. The health sector at the community level will contribute towards a dialogue about sexuality, gender roles and cultural practices in order to initiate critical reflection and action to reduce local factors that increase vulnerability to HIV.

Availability of relevant health services, such as management of Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV testing and counseling (HTC), prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) and safe blood will be further expanded while safeguarding the quality and ensuring gender sensitivity. Condoms, both male and female, will be made available in all health facilities. Furthermore, additional innovative outlets and channels will be established to increase availability and accessibility of condoms to the general population. Although reducing rates of HIV infection is complex and painstaking work, however the good news is that there is ample evidence that HIV does yield to determined and concerted interventions.

 (TACAIDS website)
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                             UJAMAA ORPHANAGE FOUNDATION (UOF)