massive hiv/aids survey kicks off

Health-E Massive HIV/AIDS survey kicks off
May 27, 2008

The 3rd South African National HIV, Behaviour and Health Survey has kicked off in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban aiming to reach 28 000 people in 15 000 randomly selected households across the country in the next five months. The survey will be undertaken by a consortium of research institutions led by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and seeks to find out the levels of HIV infection in South Africa, and to learn what South Africans know, believe and feel about HIV/AIDS. "This survey is a key instrument in our understanding the reach of HIV in our country. If we cannot reliably ascertain the extent of the disease in the country, we cannot plan accordingly. We need reliable figures so that a host of health and social interventions in response to HIV in the public, private and NGO sectors, can be targeted and implemented accurately," said Dr Olive Shisana, CEO of the HSRC: Fieldworkers are already in the field in the Western Cape, Gauteng, North-West, and the Free State. The survey involves asking participants to be pricked on a fingertip or heel (in the case of babies using a small pin known as a lancet), which will yield a few drops of blood that will be collected on special paper. Those aged 12 years and older will also answer questions about their health and sexual behaviour. Participation is voluntary and all participants will remain completely anonymous. The point is not to furnish participants with their results, but rather to gain a clearer understanding of the reach of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and people�s responses to the epidemic. Many high profile individuals in South Africa have given their support to this important study and have agreed to promote participation in the survey. These calls for participation are aimed at all South Africans - old and young, of all races, able-bodied and disabled, and people from many different backgrounds. In Pretoria, Hlubi Mboya, who plays HIV-positive Nandipha in the SABC soapi Isidingo, gave a blood sample for the survey. "My dream", she said, "is to see an AIDS-free generation". The 5fm morning show team, hosted by Gareth Cliff, who gave a blood sample on air this morning, called on listeners on air to participate in the study if they are selected for giving a blood sample and the accompanying questionnaire. At the HSRC office in Cape Town, Olympic swimmer Natalie du Toit also joined in the call for participation of young, and especially white South Africans, in the survey. She also gave a blood sample to illustrate the anonymous nature of the survey. Information from this survey will inform policy makers about the HIV/AIDS situation in South Africa and will also help to inform HIV prevention campaigns and contribute to the expansion of services for people and families infected and affected by AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Most Read: Latest Added Related Topics White House LGBT Conference on HIV/AIDS UNITED STATES: White House in Atlanta: LGBT AIDS Conference No more single-theme conferences: global HIV prevention conference planned FHI 360 Senior Scientist Lut Van Damme Receives International Microbicide Conference Lifetime Achievement Award Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and UNICEF Refute Erroneous AIDS Prevalence Figures Photographs from A Day with HIV Now Online Bulgaria urges Libya to investigate AIDS nurses case Engineers enter fight against AIDS in Africa Gilead’s Complera® Non-Inferior to Atripla® Among Treatment-Naive HIV Patients UN chief Ban calls world leaders to end Aids by 2020 OHIO: Phila Health Department HIV Testing Well-Received CONNECTICUT: City's Circle Care Center is a Model for HIV Prevention UNITED STATES: New Compound Excels at Killing Persistent and Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis INDIA: India Faces TB Drug Shortage, Warns International Medical Org ALASKA: After Topping List for Chlamydia Rates, Alaska Seeing Some Improvement Tanzania: Police Abuse, Torture, Impede HIV Services Growing HIV/AIDS awareness in Indonesia's Papua region South Africa: Catastrophe as Eastern Cape drug stock-outs continue Community-led programmes critical to progress on AIDS in Sri Lanka One in Four Surveyed EU5 Physicians Has Been Required to Change a Prescription for Some or Most of Their HIV Patients in the Past Twelve Months, Primarily to Reduce Costs OHIO: Phila Health Department HIV Testing Well-Received CONNECTICUT: City's Circle Care Center is a Model for HIV Prevention TAIWAN: HIV/AIDS Spreading to Younger People in Taiwan TEXAS: Texas State Researchers Survey Students on HPV Awareness FLORIDA: Groups Offering Free HIV Testing INDIA: HIV Prevention Among Female Sex Workers in India Reduces HIV and Syphilis Tanzania: Police Abuse, Torture, Impede HIV Services Growing HIV/AIDS awareness in Indonesia's Papua region Community-led programmes critical to progress on AIDS in Sri Lanka US program marks birth of one millionth HIV-free baby
Health-e is a news agency that produces news and in-depth analysis for the print and electronic media. Their particular focus is HIV/AIDS, public health and issues regarding health policy and practice in South Africa. They provide print features for newspapers and magazines and well as broadcast packages for national and community radio stations. They also accept commissions. Information in this article was accurate in May 27, 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.