Uganda set a target for zero new HIV infections by 2030. In comparison to the 80’s and 90’s, Uganda has registered notable progress this fight against HIV/AIDS through interventions such as mass education, voluntary counseling and testing, promotion of abstinence, faithfulness and condom use (ABC), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), among others.
However, studies undertaken by the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) and UBOS indicate a rise in new cases in young women, more than men and higher prevalence of new infections in urban areas. Adolescent girls aged 10-19 years reported 89.4 percent new cases in 2023, compared to boys of the same bracket at 10.6 percent. Furthermore, women (15+) also indicated increase in the share of new HIV infections by 8.7 percent from 58.0 percent in 2010 to 66.7 percent in 2023. Conversely, the statistics for men (15+) indicated a decline in new infections from 42 percent in 2010 to 33.3 percent in 2023. The increase in female infections could be attributed to males having unprotected sex with multiple partners. Unfortunately, a significant portion of males have never tested for HIV or other STDs.
The statistics above speak to the health of young people in the working age population, implying a risk of drop in productivity if this growing trend is not checked. This brief advises Government on the need to strengthen efforts for economic and psychological empowerment of women, reignite mass sensitization of the public especially in cities, and address the HIV funding gap.
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