HIV transmission: Men are the solution

Abstract

In the nation of Uganda, the cumulative total cases of clinical AIDS is 15,569, but out of the 13,984 adult AIDS cases, 6,394 are women aged 13–49 years. AIDS has been reported in all districts of Uganda ranging from 4 cases in Kapchorwa district to 2,808 and 4,232 cases in Masaka and Kampala districts, respectively (AIDS Control Program Report 1990). The age distribution is: 0 − 5 years = 10% 6 − 15 years = 0% 16 − 40 years = 80% 40 + years = 10%

Heterosexual contact accounts for over 90% of the transmission. Evidence suggests that prior exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as herpes, gonorrhea, and syphilis enhances susceptibility to transmission. Blood transmission and mother-to-newborn transmission cases account for about 1% and 10%, respectively. The majority of the cases are in the productive and reproductive age group. Men dominate in the 30–34 age group. Most women affected are in the childbearing range of 15–49 years. The peak incidence of AIDS is among 20–29 year-old women. The women affected are 5 years younger than the men. The average age of the affected is 27 years for women compared with 32 years for men.