Close
Child Labour Archive Employment Archives HIV/Aids Archives Presentations Archive News Archives

HIV/Aids

HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus) is the virus that causes Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). A person infected with HIV is said to be HIV-positive. This virus affects the immune system and gradually weakens the human body's resistance to infection. As the immune cells grow weaker and weaker, a stage is reached where a person is said to have Aids.

HIV/Aids is one of the most serious diseases facing the world today. And the vast majority of people with HIV live in the developing world. The number of HIV positive people is expected to grow even further as infection rates continue to rise. Factors such as poverty, poor health care systems and limited resources for prevention and care contribute towards increasing the spread of the virus. Below are some statistics on the HIV/Aids globally, in Africa and in South Africa .

HIV/Aids Global Statistics
According to the United Nation's (UN) 2008 Global Report on the Aids Epidemic, globally there are an estimated 33 million (30.3 million - 36.1 million) people living with HIV. Adults over the age of 15 accounted for roughly 93% of the total number of persons living with HIV in 2007.

The number of children younger than 15 years living with HIV increased from 1.6 million (1.4 million – 2.1 million) in 2001 to 2.0 (1.9 million – 2.3 million) million in 2007 – an increase of 25%. Almost 90% of children living with HIV are located in sub-Saharan Africa .

(Original Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 2008)

Infection Rates
The total number of new infections for adults and children decreased from 3.0 million (2.6 million – 3.5 million) in 2001 to 2.7 million (2.2 million – 3.2 million) in 2007.

An estimated 370,000 (330,000 – 410,000) children under age 15 became infected with HIV in 2007. The annual number of new HIV infections among children worldwide has declined since 2002 as services to prevent mother-to-child transmission have expanded.

Young people, 15-24 years of age, account for 45% of all new HIV infections in adults.

Over the past ten years, the percentage of women among people living with HIV has remained stable at 50% worldwide and at about 60% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Several regions, including Eastern Europe and Central Asia , have seen an increase in women's share of infections from 1990 to 2007.

Aids-related Deaths
After decades of increasing mortality, the annual number of AIDS deaths globally has declined in the past two years. There were an estimated total of 2.0 million (1.8 million – 2.3 million) Aids-related deaths in 2007 compared to 2.1 million (1.9 million – 2.4 million) in 2006. Since 2003, the rate of Aids-related deaths among children has fallen due to dedication of additional resources to treatment and preventing mother-to-child transmission. The number of child Aids-related deaths fell from 330,000 (310,000 – 380,000) in 2006 to 270,000 (250,000 – 290,000) in 2007.

Knowledge about HIV
Despite accounting for 45% of all new infections in 2007, young people between the ages of 15-24 still lack accurate, complete information on how to avoid exposure to the virus. As of the time of publication of the 2008 UNAIDS Report, 147 countries had reported on their progress towards implementing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in their 2008 Country Progress Reports based on 24 indicators. Of the 64 countries that provided data for HIV/Aids Knowledge (United Nations General Assembly Indicator 13) , survey data showed that worldwide only 40% of males and 38% of females age 15-24 had accurate and comprehensive knowledge about HIV and about how to avoid transmission. This represents improvement over knowledge levels in 2005 when 37% of males and 28% of females were found to have basic knowledge of HIV. The 2007 survey results for HIV basic knowledge are still well below the global goal of ensuring comprehensive HIV knowledge in 95% of young people by 2010.

Young females are particularly less likely than young males to have accurate and comprehensive knowledge of HIV. While more than 70% of young men know that condoms can protect against HIV exposure, only 55% of young women cite condom use as an effective prevention strategy.

HIV/Aids knowledge varied per country, though. For example, in Somalia , only 4% of young women (ages 15–24) report accurate knowledge of HIV, and only 11% of adult females are aware that condoms can prevent HIV transmission, indicating a much lower levels of HIV knowledge than the global averages. South Africa did not report data on HIV knowledge in their 2008 Country Report.

In addition, 89% of the countries who reported on HIV/Aids Knowledge had integrated HIV education into their secondary school curricula, but only 65% of reporting countries address HIV education in their primary schools, with countries in Sub-Saharan Africa being the most likely to do so.

Sources:
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) (2008) Report on the Global Aids Epidemic , available online from: http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/ GlobalReport/2008/2008_Global_report.asp
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organization (WHO) (2007) Aids epidemic update , available online from; http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/ HIVData/ EpiUpdate/EpiUpdArchive/2007/default.asp

HIV/Aids Africa Statistics

(Original Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 2008)

Overview
 Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, accounting for 67%, of all people living with HIV and for 75% of AIDS-related deaths worldwide in 2007. In numbers, there are an estimated 22 million (20.5 million – 23.6 million) adults and children living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa . Adults account for 20.3 million (18.7 million to 21.7 million) of the total while children account for 1.8 million (1.7 million to 2.0 million), which is an increase compared to 2001 when an estimated 1.4 million (1.3 million to 1.9 million) children were found to be living with HIV.

Adult national HIV prevalence is below 2% in several countries of West and Central Africa, as well as in the horn of Africa, but in 2007 it exceeded 15% in seven southern African countries ( Botswana , Lesotho , Namibia , South Africa , Swaziland , Zambia , and Zimbabwe ). Most national epidemics have stabilized or begun to decline with the exception of Kenya where new information suggests that in 2007, HIV prevalence ranged between 7.1% and 8.5%—compared with the 2003 estimate of 6.7%.

HIV has reduced life expectancy by more than 20 years, slowed economic growth and deepened household poverty in those countries most heavily affected. In sub-Saharan Africa, the epidemic has orphaned nearly 12 million children aged under 18 years and skewed the natural age distribution in many national populations with potentially perilous consequences for the transfer of knowledge and values from one generation to the next.

Although most high-prevalence countries have strategies in place to support children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV, few national programmes reach more than a small minority of such children. Among 10 countries in which 5% or more of adults are living with HIV and where recent household surveys have been conducted (countries include Cameroon, Gabon, Namibia, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania), a population adjusted average of 15% of orphans live in households receiving some form of assistance, such as medical care, school assistance, financial support, or psychosocial services. In eastern and southern Africa , national governments, civil society and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on the provision of a minimum package of social protection to vulnerable children, including those affected by HIV. Targeting cash support to HIV-affected households would significantly enhance assistance to children, who represent a significant share of households. In a pilot project in the Kalomo district of Zambia, 68% of children reached by social cash transfers were orphans, including 35% who had lost both father and mother.

Infections
Even though HIV prevalence seems to have stabilized in sub-Saharan Africa , the actual numbers of people infected continues to grow due to ongoing new infections and increased access to antiretroviral therapy that prolongs the life of people living with HIV.

An estimated 1.9 million (1.6 million – 2.1 million) people were newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in 2007. Southern Africa as a sub-region in particular accounted for 35% of HIV infections and 38% of AIDS-related deaths in 2007.

Clinical trials in Kenya , South Africa , and Uganda demonstrate that medical male circumcision reduces the risk (by about 60%) that a woman living with HIV would transmit the virus to her male sexual partner. Early results indicating an HIV prevention benefit from circumcision reportedly increased demand for circumcision in some parts of Africa .

Aids-related deaths
In 2007, there were an estimated total of 1.5 million (1.3 million to 1.7 million) Aids-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa . Of the estimated 270 000 (250 000–290 000) HIV-infected children younger than 15 years who died because of AIDS in 2007 worldwide, more than 90% lived in sub-Saharan Africa . In the most heavily-affected countries, such as Botswana and Zimbabwe , HIV is the underlying reason for more than one third of all deaths among children under the age of five.

11.6 million (10.6 million -15.3 million) children under age 18 in sub-Saharan Africa have lost one or both parents to AIDS. This is a drastic increase from the estimated 6.5 million (5.6 million to 10.0 million) Aids orphans in 2001, and the number of children orphaned by the epidemic continues to rise.

Impact on Women
 In 14 of 17 African countries with adequate survey data, the percentage of young pregnant women (ages 15–24) who are living with HIV has declined since 2000-2001 . In seven countries, the drop in infections has equaled or exceeded the 25% target decline for 2010 set forth in the UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/Aids . Among young people in Africa , HIV prevalence tends to be notably higher among females than among males

HIV prevalence among young women visiting antenatal clinics in urban or rural areas (or both) has declined since 2000-2001 in 14 of the 17 countries with sufficient data to analyse recent trends in the most-affected countries (most-affected countries include 35 coutnries with high HIV prevalence, meaning national preference exceeding 3%, and four additional countries in Africa with significant prevalence levels). Of these 14, 12 were in Africa, including Benin , Burkina Faso , Burundi , Côte d'Ivoire , Kenya , Lesotho , Malawi , Namibia , Rwanda , Swaziland , the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe . Declines in HIV prevalence exceeded 25% in seven countries, two of which— Botswana and Kenya —saw declines in both urban and rural areas. In five of the countries— Benin , Burkina Faso , Côte d'Ivoire , Malawi , and Zimbabwe —declines were significant only in urban areas.

According to the UNAIDS 2008 Report, strategies to increase women's economic independence and legal reforms to recognize women's property and inheritance rights, should be prioritized by national governments and international donors as a means of combating the spread of HIV/Aids. According to a recent study in Botswana and Swaziland, women who lack sufficient food are 70% less likely to insist upon personal control in sexual relationships, 50% more likely to engage in intergenerational sex, 80% more likely to engage in survival sex, and 70% more likely to have unprotected sex than women receiving adequate nutrition. These activities all increase the risk of HIV infection/re-infection.

Women account for two thirds of all caregivers for people living with HIV in Africa , and women who are widowed as a result of HIV risk social ostracism or destitution. Enhancing women's financial options helps mitigate some of the epidemic's most harmful effects; 90% of women participating in microfinance initiatives reported significant improvement in their lives, including improved sense of community solidarity in crises and reductions in partner violence.

Source:
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) (2008) Report on the Global Aids Epidemic , available online from: http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/ GlobalReport/2008/2008_Global_report.asp

HIV/Aids South Africa Statistics

Overview
HIV prevalence has been consistently monitored in South Africa through antenatal HIV and syphilis prevalence surveys, which have been conducted since 1990. HIV data from antenatal clinics in South Africa suggest that the country's epidemic might be stabilizing, but there is no evidence yet of major changes in HIV-related behaviour. There are an estimated 5.7 million of South Africans (a prevalence rate of about 29.1%) living with HIV, making this the largest HIV epidemic in the world. Adults comprise 5.4 million (4.7 million to 6.2 million) of the total (about 94.7% of total infections) and children 15 years and younger make up the rest. Women 15 years and older account for 3.2 million (2.8 million to 3.7 million) of the total number of people living with HIV in South Africa (56.1% of the total).

Figure 1 : 2006 HIV Antenatal Survey Prevalence by Districts

(Original Source: Republic of South Africa , 2008)

There are approximately 1,000,000 births in South Africa each calendar year. Based on the antenatal statistics available, the estimated number of HIV positive pregnant women in 2006 was 302,000 (about 30.2 per 1,000,000 pregnant women) compared to 290,000 in 2007. Approximately 85% of pregnant women attend antenatal services in the public health facilities. The total number of HIV positive pregnant women identified and enrolled into the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme in 2006 was 186,646 (72.7%) and for the period January to September 2007 was 144,506 (56.2%).

Figure 2 : National HIV prevalence trends among antenatal clinic attendees in South Africa 1990-2006

(Original Source: Republic of South Africa , 2008)

Based on the results of the annual antenatal HIV survey, it is estimated that 29.1% of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics were HIV positive in 2006 compared to 30.2% in 2005. An important finding of this survey was a significant decline in HIV prevalence amongst participants under the age of 20 years. In this group the HIV prevalence was estimated at 13.7% in 2006 compared to 15.9% in 2005. HIV prevalence in the 20-24 year age-group in 2006 (28%) had also decreased in comparison to 2005 (30.6%).

Figure 3 : Percentage of HIV positive pregnant women who received antiretroviral treatment to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission

(Original Source: Republic of South Africa , 2008)

The cumulative percent of patients in South Africa with advanced HIV infection who were registered as having received antiretroviral therapy from public and private sectors increased from 46% in 2006 to 55% in 2007. The actual percentage of patients reported to be receiving antiretroviral treatment was 36% in 2006 and 42% in 2007. A midterm review is underway to elucidate the factors at play in this discrepancy between registered and actual patients receiving antiretroviral treatment. The percentage of HIV positive pregnant women who received antiretrovirals to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission increased from 60% in 2006 to 66% in 2007.

Behaviour and Infection
The Department of Health conducts a national survey every five years on the UNGASS Indicators. According to the 2003 survey of more than 7000 people (ages 15–65) in South Africa , pervasive social norms encourage both multiple concurrent sexual partners and frequent new partners, with little peer support for commitment to a single partner. Significantly, only 21% of survey respondents said “sticking to one partner and being faithful” could prevent HIV transmission, and only 5% identified reducing the number of sex partners as a sound HIV prevention strategy.

Prevalence among young women ages 15-24 was 12.7% (9.1% to 17%) and amongst young men ages 15-24 was 4.0% (1.7% to 6.0%) according to the 2003 UNGASS Indicator survey. A new UNGASS Indicator survey was conducted in 2008, but results have not yet been released.

Figure 4 : Percentage of young people ages 15-24 who are HIV-infected

(Original Source: Republic of South Africa , 2008)

Within South Africa, a particularly encouraging trend is marked by a decline in prevalence from 16% in 2004 to 13.5% in 2006 among women younger than 20 years of age as well as a decline in prevalence in women between 20 and 24 years of age (from 30.6% in 2005 to 28.0% in 2006). Prevalence rates for women in South Africa are calculated based on antenatal clinic attendees. South African health officials are hoping this is the beginning of the long-awaited downward trend of prevalence among pregnant youth in South Africa . According to 2008 RSA Progress Report , at least two more survey rounds with the same 2006 expanded sampling methodology will be necessary to draw a conclusion on the downward HIV trend among pregnant women.

Aids related deaths and impact
In South Africa , total deaths (from all causes) increased by 87% between 1997 and 2005. During this period, death rates more than tripled for women aged 20–39, and more than doubled for males aged 30–44, with at least 40% of deaths believed to be attributable to HIV. The total number of Aids-related deaths in 2007 was estimated to be 350,000 (270,000 to 420,000), a significant increase from the estimated 180,000 (130,000 to 250,000) Aids-related deaths in 2001.The rate of population growth in South Africa fell from 1.25% in 2001–2002 to slightly more than 0.97% in 2006-2007. There are an estimated 1.4 million (1.1 million to 1.8 million) children ages 0-17 years orphaned as a result of Aids in South Africa .

It is estimated that 1,577,200 children aged 0-17 years are directly affected by HIV and AIDS through circumstances such as HIV infection at birth or through sex, living in a house with a sick or elderly caregiver, being abandoned, living in a house that cares for many children or who are multiple bereaved or frequently mobile.

The ideal assessment of the epidemic's demographic impact would be based on data from death certificates. However, even with relatively well-functioning death notification systems in South Africa , deaths related to Aids are seldom documented as such, thus true estimate figures on the number of Aids-0related deaths and the demographic impact of the epidemic are hard to determine.

Education
A recent study in rural KwaZulu Natal , South Africa found that each additional year of educational attainment reduced the risk of HIV infection by 7%. In particular, schooling offers an excellent means of reducing girls' HIV risk and vulnerability. Girls who complete primary education are more than twice as likely to use condoms, while girls who finish secondary education are between four and seven times more likely to use condoms, and are less likely to be infected with HIV.

The percentage of schools that provided life skills based HIV/Aids education in the last academic year increased from 96% in 2006 to an estimated 100% in 2007.

Sources:
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) (2008) Report on the Global Aids Epidemic , available online from: http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/ GlobalReport/2008/2008_Global_report.asp
Republic of South Africa (2008) Progress Report on Declaration of Commitment on HIV and Aids , available online from: http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/ south_africa_2008_country_progress_report_en.pdf

CODES OF CONDUCT/GUIDELINES

  • Gauteng Tourism Authority AIDS Charter. This Charter developed by the Gauteng Tourism Authority notes the seriousness of the disease, and recognizes the constitutional rights of citizens to dignity and privacy. The Charter aims to reduce the social, economic and developmental consequences of HIV/Aids to the Gauteng Tourism Authority and its stakeholders. As such it develops principles and programme of action related to HIV/AIDS and the workplace.
  • Code of Good Practice on Key Aspects of HIV/Aids and Employment . This code of good practice sets out guidelines for both employees and employers to ensure that people living with HIV are treated fairly in the workplace. The code is available through the South African Department of Labour.
  • HIV/Aids Technical Assistance Guidelines - . These Guidelines were proposed by the Commission for Employment Equity and the Department of Labour. They inform employers on how to deal with the issue of HIV/Aids in a way that will advance productivity and boost up the morale of infected and affected workers. The Guidelines caution against discrimination and stigmatization. The document urges employers to establish HIV/Aids workplace committees, to mainstream HIV/AIDS and gender issues, and to develop policy on prevention of the disease.
  • HIV/Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the Workplace: HIV/Aids Policy Guideline An HIV/Aids Policy Guideline, which deals with a variety of issues related to HIV-positive employees and those affected by Sexually Transmitted Diseases - such as confidentiality, recruitment and employment, injury on duty, etc. The publication focuses on the workplace environment and is developed by the South African Department of Health.
  • ILO Code of Good Practice on HIV/Aids and the World of Work . The International Labour Organization developed this Code that contains principles for policy development and practical guidelines from which real responses can be developed at enterprise, community and national levels on issues related to HIV/Aids and the workplace.
  • HIV/Aids and the Hospitality Industry . The International Hotel and Restaurant Association in conjunction with the UNAIDS produced a document titled - The Challenge of HIV/AIDS in the Workplace: A Guide for the Hospitality Industry - (1999). This guide gives information for hotels and restaurants of all sizes to develop their own HIV/Aids policies and awareness programmes, and to help employees understand the causes and risks associated with this pandemic. It provides recommendations for creating an HIV policy for businesses, which amongst other essential issues include compliance with the laws and culture of the country and prevention of discrimination against people with HIV or Aids.

USEFUL LINKS

South African Resources

  • www.doh.gov.za - Website of the South African Department of Health, which has a programme on HIV/Aids and TB.
  • www.sabcoha.org - South African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA). This site provides information on the impact of HIV/Aids on businesses and uses data gathered from companies to demonstrate the value of companies undertaking impact assessments and instituting programmes. The site also provides case studies of actual programmes being instituted by business corporations.
  • www.alp.org.za - A website for the Aids Law Project at Wits University . It offers legal support for those living with HIV/Aids, and easy to use legal documentation.
  • ww.edutc.co.za - A website for Education, Training and Counselling etc - specialists in workplace training and policies for HIV/Aids.
  • www.aidsinfo.co.za - An HIV/Aids resources website provided by the South African government. This site contains general information on HIV/AIDS, best practices, legislation, publications and the like.
  • www.aids.org.za - A website hosted by the AIDS Foundation of South Africa, which aims to gives general information about Aids within the context of South Africa . This site also provides information on the activities of the Foundation, and offers a channel to facilitate to anyone who wants to make financial contribution towards various Aids initiatives.
  • www.aidsdirectory.co.za - A directory designed to assist networking and referral as key components of the national response to HIV/Aids.
  • www.hivan.org.za - Centre for HIV/Aids Networking (HIVAN). The mission of HIVAN is to facilitate excellence, efficiency and effectiveness in HIV/Aids-related research, training and intervention in the province of KwaZulu-Natal .
  • www.afroaidsinfo.org - AfroAIDSinfo is an Internet project of the South African Medical Research Council. It aims to disseminate important information on HIV/Aids to researchers, the health profession, the public, infected individuals, educators and policy makers. This site is an HIV/Aids information portal for Southern Africa .

Global/International Resources

  • www.undaids.org - A United Nations joint Programme (UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO, and World Bank) on HIV/Aids, which is a key promoter for global action against HIV/AIDS.
  • www.who.int/hiv - The World Heath Organization (WHO) website that addresses HIV/Aids and related issues. This site includes strategic information, facts and figures, and publications.
  • www.ilo.org/aids - The International Labour Organization's Programme on HIV/Aids and the world of work. This website provides information about why AIDS is a workplace issue, ILO's response and the ILO Code of Practice and the world of work. It also offers information on fact sheets and statistics, publications and the like.
  • www.businessfightsaids.org - The Global Business Coalition on HIV/Aids (GBC) is a coalition of international business dedicated to fighting the Aids epidemic through the business sector's unique skills and expertise. It was established in 1997.

FTTSA Resources

•  Lee-Anne Bac's HIV-Aids Presentation to Fedhasa March 2004

•  Tourism Hospitality & Sport Education & Training Authority (THETA) HIV/Aids Handbook 2007 - This handbook offers you information and tools that will help you manage and handle HIV/AIDS issues that affect your company, as well as your employees, guests and your community.

FTTSA has developed a training workshop to assist small and medium sized tourism and hospitality companies to develop and manage HIVAids workplace programmes based on the THETA handbook. For more information or to schedule a training please visit the FTTSA HIV/Aids Training webpage or contact Khaya at khaya@fairtourismsa.org.za ; Tel: 012 342 2945

 
Copyright © 2009, Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa, All Rights Reserved.