title: Prevalence of HIV in the Mthatha area of South Africa, as estimated from the testing of rape victims.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tremendous challenges remain in the field of HIV education, prevention and care in South Africa. There is conflicting data on the prevalence of HIV in South Africa from two major studies. Antenatal surveillance showed 29.5% prevalence whereas a household HIV survey showed a prevalence nearly half of that, at 16.2%. There is therefore a need for a third estimate in this situation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate HIV prevalence in the Mthatha area of South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of HIV testing results among victims of sexual assault who presented for the first time to the Sinawe Referral Centre, Mthatha General Hospital, for the period 2001-2005 (inclusive).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2001 and 2005, 1691 victims of sexual assault presented to the Sinawe Referral Centre. Of these 1435 (84.8%) were tested for HIV at the time of first consultation. One hundred and ninety-seven were found to be HIV positive on the screening test. In a space of five years (2001-2005), there was an increase in HIV prevalence from 0.9% to 6.4%. The highest HIV positive rate (3.7%) was found in the 16-20 year age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HIV prevalence rate is 13.7% in the Mthatha area, and just over a half (7%) of HIV-positive rape survivors were aged 16-25 years.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, P/Bag X1, Mthatha 5117, South Africa. bmeel@wsu.ac.za
authors.forename: Banwari
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meel
authors.forename: Enoch
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kwizera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011902:Rape; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult