By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
Greater Masaka has the highest HIV prevalence rate in Uganda at 8.1% with Karamoja having the least rate at only 2.1 percent.
This was revealed by the Minister of Health, Dr. Ruth Aceng this afternoon 10th February 10, 2022 while releasing the 2020 Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) report at Uganda Media Center.
Greater Masaka comprises 12 districts, namely; Bukomansimbi, Butambala, Gomba, Kalangala, Kalungu, Kyotera, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Masaka, Mityana, Mpigi, Rakai and Ssembabule.
The magnitude of HIV prevalence varied considerably across the 11 geographic regions in the survey, from a low of 2.1% in North East (Karamoja) region to 2.8% in the West-Nile region; 4.2% in the Mid-Eastern region.
4.2% in North East (Teso) region; 4.5% East Central (or Busoga region); 5.5% in Mid-Western region; 6.0% in Kampala; 6.2% in Central 2 (Greater Mubende, Luwero and Mukono) region; 6.3% in South Western region.
7.6% in Mid North region; and 8.1% in the Central 1 region (greater Masaka). HIV prevalence in all regions was lower in UPHIA 2020 compared to UPHIA 2016/17 except in mid-north and Central 1.
The results also indicate that the current prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 years in Uganda is 5.5 percent.
Data were collected in all regions of the country from a sample of households that are representative of the Ugandan population.
The survey was conducted between February 2020- March 2020, paused due COVID-19 mitigation measures, and resumed in October 2020 and completed in February 2021.
The survey collected information about the uptake of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services and offered home-based HIV counselling and testing, with referral to ART clinics for those who tested HIV positive.
The prevalence of HIV among adults of reproductive age 15 to 49 years was 5.5% (7.1 percent among women and 3.8% among men) reflecting a slight decrease from 6.0% in UPHIA 2016-17 (7.5 percent among women and 4.3% among men.
Among both men and women, HIV prevalence was lowest in the 15 to 19 year age group. Among men, HIV prevalence was highest in the 45 to 49 year age group at 11.1 percent, & among women, HIV prevalence was highest in the 50 to 54 year age group at 13.6% .
UPHIA 2020 showed that 75.4% adults aged 15 years and older were virally suppressed.
In the entire UPHIA 2020 survey sample of adults aged 15 years and older, HIV prevalence was 5.8% (7.2% among women and 4.3% among men) corresponding to approximately 1.3 million adults living with HIV in Uganda.
The prevalence of HIV in adults 15 years and above was higher in urban areas (7.1%) than in rural areas (5.2%).
