|

All Woman

More South African pregnant women contracting HIV 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012



JOHANNESBURG — A new study on Monday showed increased HIV infection rates among pregnant women living in areas with high migrant labour in South Africa, the country with one of the world's highest caseloads.

Infections in the eastern province of Mpumalanga jumped from 34.7 per cent in 2009 to 36.7 per cent.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said some of the districts in these areas had rates above the national antenatal HIV prevalence rate of 29.5 per cent.

"In areas where we see new mining operations, news towns, constructions and new people coming in, we expect something like this higher prevalence rate to happen," said Motsoaledi.

"It needs our attention," he added.

The farming and mining provinces of Free State, North West, Limpopo also recorded increases.

The study was conducted in 2011 on some 33,446 women who attended antenatal clinics for the first time.

The semi-arid Namaqua district in the sparsely inhabited region of Northern Cape recorded the lowest prevalence rate at 6.2 percent. However, the country's economic hub, Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria showed a slight decrease from 30.4 percent in 2010 to 28.7 percent in 2011.

In South Africa six million people currently live with the virus that causes AIDS.

After years of refusing to roll out drugs, the country now runs the world's largest treatment programme, serving 1.3 million people.

Health officials plan to step up awareness campaigns to fight the scourge.



VOWS: MY perfect catch

 

Karen Anderson: Sports is her passion

 

Saint meets beMode

 

Am I the girlfriend or the side chick?

 

Get your child to speak properly

 

No sex, no child support!

 

AW Feedback - Here's why you shouldn't get married

 

About my prolapsed bladder

 

Weight loss challenges

 

Kaj Designs does Intermezzo

 

An office romance gone bad

 

I didn't cheat... I just kissed him

 

Little People Pix - May 13

 

Untreated STIs can lead to infertility

 

8 reasons to do a detox programme

 

Remember...Grounds for divorce

 

Poll Results - No revenge

 

VOWS: Just married!

 

AW Poll Results - Respect lost

 

Transport’s Leading Ladies

 

Today's Cartoon


Poll

Is there a secret you are keeping that if your partner knew, you feel you would lose them?
YES
NO

View Results

Results published weekly in All Woman