DPG AIDS

Overview

With a total population of about 36 million people [2002 Tanzania Household Census general report -estimates for 2006] and a Gross National Product per capita of US$ 280, Tanzania is among the poorest countries in the world. HIV prevalence is far higher in the mainland than the on island territory of Zanzibar, which has about 1 million inhabitants and a prevalence rate estimated at 0.6% in 2002.

Since the first AIDS cases were discovered in Tanzania in 1983, HIV prevalence has been on the increase. According to the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) reports, the rates have been increasing from 1.3% (1985), 7.2% (1990), 9.6% (2002) and 8.7% (2004). Another report conducted by Tanzania HIV/AIDS Commission (TACAIDS), indicated the infection rate to be at 7% (THIS 2004). However the difference between the findings of the NACP and TACAIDS reports are due to different methodologies employed in doing the studies and therefore should not by any chance be mistaken to denote a fall in infection rates in Tanzania.

TACAIDS: TANZANIA HIV/AIDS INDICATORS SURVEY 2004 (more information)

General population HIV Prevalence	· 7% of adults aged 15-49 are infected with HIV (women 8% and men 6%) - For age breakdown see end of this table.· HIV +ve is higher at age 30 -34 (12.9%) for women and at age 40 - 44 (12.3%) for men· For rural: HIV prevalence is 5.3% - (4.8% for men and 5.8% for women· For Urban: HIV prevalence is 10.9% - (9.6% for men and 12% for women
Prevalence by education	Women - No education (5.8%) - Primary incomplete (5.8%) - Primary complete (8.8%) - Secondary+ (9.3%) Men - No education (4.2%) - Primary incomplete (4.8%) - Primary complete (7.0%) - Secondary+ (7.3)
Prevalence by marital status	Women -Currently married/in union (6.9%) -Formally married (19.8%) -Never in union (3.8%) Men -Currently married/in union (7.8%) -Formally married (15%) -Never in union (3%)
Prevalence in Couples	-Almost 8% of cohabiting couples are discordant ie one partner is HIV positive and the other is HIV negative - 2.6% of partners are HIV positivev 4.4% man positive and woman negative - 3.5% woman positive and man negative
Youth and HIV	- 44% of young women and 49% of young men know 5 of the most important elements of HIV/AIDS transmission - Over 50% of young women and 75% of young men know a place to get condoms -17% of young women and 26% of young men aged 15-24 said to have used condoms the first time they had sexual intercourse -Among sexually active youth aged 15-24 years, 37% of women and 81% of men engaged in higher risk sexual activity in the past one year – (only 47% men and 42% women were more likely to use a condom) -Median age at first marriage among women is 19 years and men 25 years
HIV/AIDS-related knowledge	-Over 99% of Tanzanians aged 15-49 have heard of HIV/AIDS -90% of adults know that having only one uninfected, faithful partner can reduce the chances of getting AIDS -4 in 5 adults know that a healthy-looking person may be HIV+

HIV Prevalence by age group 15-49 yrs

Age	Females	Male	Males& Females
15-19	2.1	2.1	2.1
20-24	6.0	4.2	5.2
25- 29	9.4	6.8	8.3
30-34	12.9	8.6	10.9
35-39	11.6	9.8	10.7
40-44	9.8	12.3	10.9
45-49	5.8	6.7	6.3
Total	7.7	6.3	7.0