HIV Prevalence analysis using Botswana Aids Impact Survey (BAIS) IV results

Keywords: HIV, BAIS(IV), Botswana, geography, gender, age
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

The highest HIV prevalence rates as of year 2020 globally are found among the four neighboring countries in the eastern and southern African region, namely Eswatini (27 per 100 population), Lesotho (20.9) Botswana (20.68) and South Africa (18.3). Botswana has the greatest number of people living with HIV (329,000 with a population of about 2.3 million) when excluding South Africa which has the highest population among the four countries. Though the new infections have been steadily decreasing among the general population in Botswana, a third of incidences have occurred along age and gender gradients. This study assesses HIV prevalence in terms of geography (urban, peri-urban, and rural areas), demographics and socio-economic variables using Botswana Aids Impact Survey (BAIS) IV secondary data of 2013. The results showed that towns (20.2%) followed by cities (18.6%) had the highest HIV prevalence when compared to peri-urban (16.8) and rural areas (15.8%). By districts, Selibi-Phikwe had the highest (27.5%) and the least was found in Kgalagadi South (11.1%). HIV prevalence rate was found to be at its peak between ages 35-39 and 45-49, estimated at 43.7 % and 41.8 %, respectively. However, the male and female patterns show differential peaks, with women’s prevalence peaking (nearly 50.6 %) at an earlier age (35-39) while that of males peaks to 43.8 % in the 40-44 age group. These results show that specific interventions were needed at urban areas as well as for the female gender if the war against HIV was to be won in Botswana.