HIV/AIDS in Haiti

Haiti is the Caribbean country most affected by HIV/AIDS. The epidemic is generalized and fueled by endemic poverty and high illiteracy rates. By the end of 2005, the national HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 49 was 3.8 percent.

In Haiti, HIV is primarily transmitted through heterosexual contact, followed by mother-to-child transmission. Half of the people living with HIV/AIDS are women. The recent declines in HIV infection rates are most notable in urban areas, and have been attributed to significant behavioral changes, including fewer partners, delayed sexual debut, and increased condom use. Other explanations for the recent trends include AIDS-related mortality and improvements made in blood safety early in the epidemic. Continued political instability, high internal migration rates, high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, and weakened health and social services persist as factors with potential negative impacts on the epidemic. Antiretroviral coverage in Haiti is minimal for rural populations, people in prostitution, and men who have sex with men — ultimately reaching less than 20 percent of the people who need it. [http://www.pepfar.gov/pepfar/press/81593.htm "2008 Country Profile: Haiti"] . U.S. Department of State (2008). Accessed September 7, 2008. PD-notice]

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