04 Dec 2013

There has been an increase in percentages of people testing for HIV.


This was revealed in the just released preliminary results of Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS IV) of 2013. 
The survey showed that between 2008 and 2013 an estimated 70.2 per cent of the population aged 10-64 years old reported having tested for HIV at least once compared to 56.0 percent from the 2008 BAIS III.


Further, in the twelve months preceding the survey, 97.1 percent of the population aged 15-49 had an HIV test and were informed of the results.
Nevertheless, the survey noted that early sexual debut was reported at 4.6 per cent for men and women aged 15-24 who had sexual intercourse before the age of 15 years, compared to 4 percent recorded from the previous BAIS III.


The percentage of both sexes aged 15-49 who had multiple sexual partners in the last 12 months was found to be at 15.8 per cent.
 Amongst the same population 81.9 percent reported having used condoms during the last sexual intercourse.
The survey found out that condom use amongst 15-24 years old was at 99.5 percent every time they had sex with non-regular partners in the 12 months proceeding to the survey.


Further, BAIS IV found that the number of orphanage children under the age of 18 years old had dropped from 16 percent to 14.4 percent.
 Also, 13.9 percent of the household in which orphaned children lived received some free basic external support in the 12 months preceding the survey compared to 31 percent from BAIS III.


Home based care from trained caregivers was being provided to about 50.3 percent of the household with bedridden people in the period under review, compared to 49 percent from the previous study.Ends