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Children bear brunt of HIV infections

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Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and heterosexual transmission remain the significant sources of new HIV infections and the major mode of transmission, a recent report by the National Aids Council has revealed.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and heterosexual transmission remain the significant sources of new HIV infections and the major mode of transmission, a recent report by the National Aids Council has revealed.

Report by Fortune Moyo, Staff Reporter The report says an average of one in three infants born to HIV positive mothers are infected.

  “MTCT continues to remain a significant source of new infections among infants with approximately one in three infants born to HIV positive mothers being infected,” reads the report in part.

  “An estimated 7 695 children were newly infected with HIV in 2011, the vast majority of them through MTCT.

  “The percentage of infants born to HIV positive mothers who have the virus transmitted to them remains high.”

 

 

The report also cites heterosexual transmission as a major mode of HIV transmission.

  “Heterosexual transmission occurs in unions, regular partnerships, extra-marital relations, casual heterosexual sex and sex work,” says the report. “Low risk heterosexual transmission accounts for the bulk of sources of new adult HIV infections (56%).

  “People involved in casual sexual relationships (more than one partner a year) and their partners contribute about  23, 92% of new HIV cases.”

  The report also says women were disproportionately affected by the deadly epidemic.

  “Characteristic of the eastern and southern region, Zimbabwe’s adult HIV prevalence is significantly higher, among women aged 15-49 (17,7%) than among men in the same age cohort (12,3%),” states the report.

  It says the peak age for HIV infection in women is 35-39 years while for men it is the 45-49 years age group.

  The report also revealed that interlinked factors which drove HIV risk among young women in Zimbabwe included low risk perception, lack of knowledge of HIV status and gender norms related to masculinity, which encouraged men to have more sexual partners.

  It also cites areas with high levels of spousal separation as epicenters of the pandemic.

  “Key populations at risk in the epidemic include residents in farms, growth points, some districts with mining activity, border posts and other areas with high levels of spousal separation,” states the report.

  According to UNAids 2011  National Estimates, about 1,1 million adults and 190 000 children were living with the virus in Zimbabwe, making the country the third most affected in Southern Africa.