HIV rate rises 6% in South Africa

The number of South Africans infected with HIV rose to 5.6 million in 2003--up 6% from 5.3 million in 2002--but a stabilizing infection rate among the country's teenagers indicates the epidemic may be leveling off, the nation's health department says. "The findings of the 2003 antenatal survey show that the HIV prevalence rates remain high in South Africa," the government report says, adding that data suggested a "slowly stabilizing" epidemic. The report was based on a study of HIV and syphilis rates among a sample of 16,643 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the public health system in October 2003. According to the report, about 28% of pregnant women were HIV-positive, up from 26.5% in 2002. The health department says an estimated 3.1 million South African women are HIV-positive, compared to 2.4 million men. However, "Stability observed particularly amongst teenagers and the non-significant difference between the national figures for HIV prevalence for 2002 to 2003 all point to an epidemic in stabilization phase," the report notes. HIV prevalence was found to be highest among people ages 25 to 29, while only a marginal increase in infections was detected among people under age 20--considered to be the best barometer of the overall infection rate. (Reuters)