The Health Department has released the results of the National Antenatal Sentinel HIV & Syphilis Prevalence Survey in record time this year, a sign of their new commitment to use scientific evidence to reverse the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The survey was conducted among more than 33 000 pregnant women aged 15-49 years old in some 1500 public health clinics in October last year.
The HIV prevalence rate among pregnant women in 2009 was estimated to be virtually the same as 2008: 29.4% compared to 29.3% the previous year.
Major findings of the report include:
* Pregnant women 30-34 years have the highest HIV prevalence at 41%;
* HIV rates have risen the most in women aged 35-39, from 29% in 2006 to 35% in 2009;
* Kwazulu-Natal is still the province with the highest prevalence, estimated at 39%; and
* Syphilis prevalence remains unchanged at 1.9%.
Almost 1 in 3 pregnant women in South Africa has HIV: new report | Tracking HIV
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