HSRC concerned about rising HIV cases among North West youth

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has raised concerns over rising HIV infections among the youth in the North West.

The HSRC released the sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey for North West Province in Mahikeng today.

The North West registered a decline of infections from 14.8 % in 2017 to 12.3 % in 2022, making it the fifth highest HIV prevalence among provinces in the country.

This translates to an estimated 465 000 people living with HIV in the province.

However, the HIV prevalence of youngsters between the ages of 15 and 19 years-old has increased from 3.2% in 2017 to 4.5% in 2022.

The provincial HIV/AIDS Council has welcomed the report.

CEO of the council Margaret Mokgothu says awareness on HIV testing amongst young people still needs to be raised.

“We still need to do a lot in the area of children, adolescents and young people [in order] for them to know their status and be initiated on treatment, especially because the highest incidents of HIV/Aids are in that group of adolescents and young people. So, the study is an eye opener that we should concentrate our efforts on them knowing their status and getting treatment.” 

VIDEO | Professor Khangelani Zuma weighs in on the SA HIV Prevalence Survey: