HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia

Ethiopia faces a mixed epidemic among sub-populations and geographic areas, with an estimated overall HIV prevalence rate between 0.9 and 2.5 percent among adults ages 15 to 49.1 While previous estimates were higher, expansion of surveillance data and improved analyses resulted in significantly lower estimates for 2005. Based on antenatal clinic surveillance data, HIV prevalence has declined to about 10.1 percent in urban areas and has stabilized to an estimated 1.8 percent in rural areas. The primary mode of HIV transmission in Ethiopia is heterosexual contact. Young women are more vulnerable to infection than young men; urban women are three times as likely to be infected as urban men, although in rural areas the difference between genders is negligible. Populations at higher risk for HIV infection include people in prostitution, police officers and members of the military. [http://www.pepfar.gov/pepfar/press/81577.htm "2008 Country Profile: Ethiopia"] . U.S. Department of State (2008). PD-notice]

Ethiopia has a large and extremely vulnerable population of 74.7 million, with an estimated 50 percent of the population living below the poverty line.2 HIV/AIDS remains one of the key challenges for the overall development of Ethiopia, as it has led to a seven-year decrease in life expectancy and a greatly reduced workforce.3 Reduced productivity, civil conflict, poor farming conditions, and recurrent droughts leave six to 13 million people at risk of starvation each year.3 In the health sector, there is a shortage of health workers and counselors, in addition to poor access to sparse health services, inadequate sanitation, inefficient procurement systems, and weak monitoring and evaluation systems.3 Conflict, famine and drought have led to widespread population movements, adding to displacements caused by cross-border tensions. As of January 2007, there were an estimated 97,300 refugees in Ethiopia.

A program is being developed to distribute generic drugs donated by various aid groups to women of childbearing years. [ [http://www.aidsinafrica.net/news.php AidsinAfrica.net - Online Resource for HIV AIDS in Africa ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.aidsportal.org/overlay_details.aspx?nex=20 AIDSPortal Ethiopia - News, research, case studies and contact information for organisations responding to HIV and AIDS in Ethiopia]