HIV/AIDS in Africa: Need to balance HIV advocacy with reality

[Guest guest]

Colleagues:

This report below is a good reminder to balance HIVA advocacy with reality.

Bennell's key points (in his own words): There is a danger that advocacy is

getting in the way of objective assessments of the level and trends of the AIDS

epidemic in Africa. It is not possible to generalise about the epidemic across

the continent HIV prevalence rates are not increasing in most countries as is

usually stated or implied HIV prevalence among youth, and especially teenagers,

is often being seriously over-estimated which, in turn, has important

implications for HIV prevention programmes among youth

Thus, only population-based survey data should be relied upon. Recent data is

essential because infection levels can change very quickly in response to

behavioural change. Uganda is the prime example. HIV prevention programmes need

to be targeted more on out of school youth and adults in their mid-late twenties

Check out the full-report:

http://www.eldis.org/ds/docDisplay.cfm?Doc=DOC13471 & Resource=f1hiv

Pradeep K. Goel, DrPH, MSc, MPH, MBBS

Regional Technical Advisor, Health

CRS/South Asia

5 Community Center, Zamrudpur

Kailash Colony Extension

New Delhi 110048, India

Phones: 91-11-26487260/11/12

Fax: 91-11-26487259

Email:pkgoel@...