The Ministry of Health and Development partners including the US government released preliminary results of the 2016 Uganda Population HIV Impact Assessment conducted between August 2016 and March 2017. Prevalence remained high among women despite a decline from 8.3 in 2011. Most of those infected lived in urban areas. “Among woman, HIV prevalence is highest in the age groups of 35 to 39 years and 45 to 49 years are 12.9%.” Said Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng – Minister of Health.

Experts said HIV prevalence among females remained high due to physiological factors. “The surface area over which transmission can happen tends to be bigger for women than for men. And sometimes the trauma, the abrasions, the risk of tears which would then include transmission tend to be higher for women than for men.” Said, Dr. Wilford Kirungi – Epidemiologist. The survey also showed HIV prevalence per region with South Western Uganda having the highest prevalence at 7.7%, Central Region One that included greater Masaka stood at 7.4%, Central Two including greater Mubende, Luwero and Mukono was ranked third at 7.4%, Kampala 6.6%, Mid-Western Region 5.5%, Mid-Eastern Region 4.4%, and North – Eastern 3.4% and 2.8% in West Nile.

The report indicated that there was an increase of HIV infection within the age group of 20 to 25 amongst girls which required creative and innovative ways of curbing the problem. One of the major causes highlighted was poverty. “The age group from 45 to 49 have a very high prevalence of HIV and those are some of the age groups that the adolescents interact with for several reasons; one of them is poverty, they are looking for ways of survival. So even in our response to HIV, we have to address poverty.” Said the Minister of Health.

The survey also indicated higher Hepatitis B infection among men compared to women. The US remained one of the biggest donors to Uganda’s Health Sector. The US Ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac said, the finding would help in bridging the gap in HIV response. “We need to ensure that the youth; the future of Uganda as they move into their productive years, that they are as healthy as possible.” Said the US Ambassador to Uganda.