Local HIV/AIDS info

Estimated total population, 2011: 12,084,304 (CIA World factbook)               

Estimated number of people living with HIV, end 2009: 1,2 million (UNAIDS, 2009). Adults (15+): 1 million (UNAIDS, 2009)           

Estimated adult (15-49) HIV prevalence: 14.3% (UNAIDS, 2009)                   

Estimated number of AIDS deaths in 2009: 83,000 (UNAIDS, 2009)    

Trends:

The main behavioural change appears to have been a reduction in the proportion of men with casual partners, while condom use with nonregular partners has remained high since the late 1990s There has been a statistically significant declining trend in HIV prevalence among women as well as decline in sex under age of 15 and more than one partner. However there is no evidence of change in use of condoms.

In Zimbabwe young people make up almost 40% of the population, with a high HIV prevalence rate that is above 15%, compared to the national prevalence rate of 13.7% Yet most young people still have no access to sexual and reproductive health programmes that provide the information, skills, services, commodities, and social support they need to prevent HIV. Combined with challenges that include poverty, inadequate youth friendly health services and soaring unemployment rate which is estimated at 70%, young people face a tough situation.