Ethiopia, one of the hardest
hit countries with HIV/AIDS
in the world, is home to the
third largest HIV/AIDS infected
population next to India and
South Africa.
It is estimated that
1.7 million Ethiopians are
living with HIV/AIDS including
111, 903 children in the year
2005 . The national adult
HIV prevalence rate is 4.7%
for the year 2005, the highest
urban prevalence in the country
was 23.4% for Bahir Dar, estimated
prevalence for the urban and
rural in the year 2005 was
12.5% and 3% respectively.
The first HIV infections
in Ethiopia were identified
in 1984, and the first AIDS
cases reported in 1986. Since
1984, a cumulative total of
107,575 AIDS cases were reported
to the Ministry of Health.
The prevalence of HIV was
low in 1980’ s but increased
rapidly in the 1990’s.
The major avenue of transmission
of HIV infection in Ethiopia
is heterosexual intercourse
and the practice of multiple
sexual partnerships, particularly
in urban areas. Illegal medical
practices and harmful traditional
practices are also potential
routes of transmission. It
is believed that 30 to 40
percent of babies born to
HIV-positive mothers are likely
to contract the virus.
The
2005 HIV prevalence
is higher among women (5.4%)
than men (4%) and is higher
in the urban (12.5%) than
in the rural population (3.%).
Younger females who are living
with HIV/AIDS out number males,
while more males are observed
in older age groups (30+years).
There were also, 253,308 new
infections 143,129 new AIDS
cases, and 134,124 AIDS deaths
in the population in 2005.
A total of 138,000 HIV positive
pregnancies and an estimated
34,000 HIV-positive births
occurred. Among children,
in 2005, there were estimated
111,903 living HIV, 39,856
new HIV infections, 29,359
new AIDS cases and 28,693
AIDS deaths estimated . A
total of 4.8 million children
under 17 in the country are
estimated to be orphans in
the year 2005 for different
reasons, of which 754,760
were due to AIDS.
The projected National HIV/AIDS
prevalence for the years 2005/2006
is 4.7% and 4.8% respectively.
National HIV Prevalence Estimates
2006
National
4.8%
Urban
12.5%
Rural
3.2%
Death
155,515
Pregnant Women
Testing HIV Positive
155,165
1.8 million Ethiopians estimated
to be living with HIV/AIDS
as of 2006
One-in-six adults in Ethiopia’s
major city centers are infected
with HIV and do not even know
it
Unprotected sex is responsible
for an estimated 90% of the
country’s HIV/AIDS cases
AIDS is now the leading cause
of adult morbidity and mortality
in Ethiopia
Source: Aids in Ethiopia 5th
Report
