IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA IT IS REPORTED THAT 1 IN 5 PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH HIV  

HIV/ AIDS IN ZAMBIA - THE STATISTICS

In Lusaka, Zambia HIV impacts the community in many ways affecting not only an individuals health and well being but having a much wider economic impact on someones ability to earn an income, a child's education and school attendance, and a families economic status when they take on their relatives who have lost parents to HIV. There is also a social impact with people suffering with stigma, discrimination and isolation: 
  • Over 1.1Million people are living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia (2012 UNAIDS estimate)
  • One in seven people across Zambia is living with HIV (AVERT 2014)
  • When a person living with HIV achieves a non detectable viral load through medication their risk of transmission is reduced to zero. 
  • Life expectancy rates have fallen to 49.4 Years (UNDP Human Development report 2013)
  • 20.8% of people in Lusaka are living with HIV ( Ministry of Health, Zambia, 2011)
  • 160,000 children in Zambia aged 0-14 are living with HIV (2012 estimate)
  • 53% of women aged 15-49 years old in Lusaka have not been tested for HIV in the past 12 months (Ministry of Health/ NAC 2014 Zambia Country report) 
  • Of those not tested in Luasaka 90% of Women  would not get tested because they fear the results  (Ministry of Health/ NAC 2014 Zambia Country report) 

HIV TRANSMISSION

HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids like semen and vaginal fluids. The main forms of transmission include:
  • Unprotected sex with someone who is infected; 
  • Mother to child transmission during pregnancy, labor or breastfeeding and;
  • Sharing unsterilized needles. 
Whilst most people in Zambia have heard of HIV there are still a lack of knowledge around transmission and safe sex at a community level and many myths and misunderstandings  surrounding HIV which can impact transmission:
  • HIV cannot be transmitted by sharing food, touching or mosquito bites but up to 20% of individuals in Zambia believe HIV can be transmitted by mosquito's or supernatural means*
  • 55% of 15-19 year olds in Lusaka could not get a male condom if they wanted one (and 25% don't know any sources for condoms)*
  • 57% of men who have had more than 2  partners in the last 12 months did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter*
  • Mother to child transmission has reduced dramatically - only 2% of births to HIV+ mothers resulting in the child testing as HIV+ - TTF is working towards zero transmission.*

YOUNG WOMEN AT RISK

Adolescents and young women are much more at risk of infection than men, mainly due to factors resulting from gender inequality, cultural practices and traditions in Zambia. 
  • Women and young girls aged 15-24 are more than twice as likely to become infected with HIV than men of the same age**
  • Women are taught to never deny their husbands sex**
  • Almost 20% of women in Lusaka DO NOT know that HIV transmission can be reduced by using a condom *
  • Many women are taught NEVER to insist on condom use from their partner/ husband**
  • Young women in Zambia typically become sexually active earlier than men, with partners who will be on average five years their senior and who may already have had a number of sexual partners**

*Data derived from Ministry of Health/ National AIDS Council 2014 Country Report
**AVERT Zambia Website 2015

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