Fear, Social Change Drive Down Zimbabwe HIV Rates

Behavioral changes that have helped drive down adult HIV prevalence in Zimbabwe appear to have been mostly due to an increased awareness of AIDS deaths and the nation's economic devastation, a new study suggests. Adult HIV prevalence in Zimbabwe dropped from an estimated 29 percent in 1997 to 16 percent in 2007.

Fear of acquiring HIV and widespread social, political, and economic disruption helped reduce extramarital, commercial, and casual sexual relations and partner concurrency, the study found. These changes likely were aided by prevention programs in the media, church, and workplace environments and in interpersonal conversations.

"The HIV epidemic is still very large, with more than one in 10 adults infected today," said study co-author Timothy Hallett of Imperial College in London. "We hope that Zimbabwe and other countries in southern Africa can learn from these lessons and strengthen programs to drive infections down even further."

"Very few other countries around the world have seen reductions in HIV infection, and of all African nations, Zimbabwe was thought least likely to see such a turnaround," said Imperial's Simon Gregson, a senior study co-author.

Last year, UNAIDS said that young Africans were leading a "revolution" in HIV prevention by having safer sex and fewer partners.

"Focusing on partner reduction, in addition to promoting condom use for casual sex and other evidence-based approaches, is crucial for developing more effective prevention programs, especially in regions with generalized HIV epidemics," the study authors wrote.

The complete study, "A Surprising Prevention Success: Why Did the HIV Epidemic Decline in Zimbabwe?" was published in the open-access Public Library of Science Medicine (2011;8(2):e1000414).

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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