Situation of HIV/AIDS in Uganda
HIV Prevalence:
The prevalence of HIV among adults of reproductive age 15 to 49 years was 5.5 percent (7.1 percent among women and 3.8 percent among men) reflecting a slight decrease from 6.0 percent in UPHIA 2016-17 (7.5 percent among women and 4.3 percent among men).
In the entire UPHIA 2020 survey sample of adults aged 15 years and older, HIV prevalence was 5.8 percent (7.2 percent among women and 4.3 percent among men) corresponding to approximately 1.3 million adults living with HIV in Uganda. The prevalence of HIV in adults 15 years and above was higher in urban areas (7.1 percent) than in rural areas (5.2 percent).
HIV Prevalence By Region
The magnitude of HIV prevalence varied considerably across the 11 geographic regions in the survey, from a low of 2.1 percent in North East (Karamoja) region to 2.8 percent in West-Nile region; 4.2 percent in Mid-Eastern region; 4.2 percent in North East (Teso) region; 4.5 percent East Central (or Busoga region); 5.5 percent in Mid-Western region; 6.0 percent in Kampala; 6.2 percent in Central 2 (Greater Mubende, Luwero and Mukono) region; 6.3 percent in South Western region; 7.6 percent in Mid North region; and 8.1 percent in Central 1 region (greater Masaka). HIV prevalence in all regions was lower in UPHIA 2020 compared to UPHIA 2016/17 except in mid-north and Central 1.
HIV Prevalence By Age:
Among both men and women, HIV prevalence was lowest in the 15 to 19 year age group. Among men, HIV prevalence was highest in the 45 to 49 year age group at 11.1 percent, and among women, HIV prevalence was highest in the 50 to 54 year age group at 13.6 percent.
The survey reported continued higher HIV prevalence in young women than in young men. The HIV prevalence among young people aged 15 to 24 years was 1.8 percent. In this age group, the prevalence was three times higher among women at 2.9 percent compared to men at 0.8 percent.
HIV prevalence among young adults;
Looking more in depth at the HIV prevalence among young adults, the survey found that HIV prevalence estimates were higher among the 20 to 24 year age group than in the 15 to 19 year age group. HIV prevalence was 0.2 percent in men aged 15 to 19 years and 1.6 percent in men aged 20 to 24 years. Similarly, HIV prevalence was 1.7 percent in women aged 15 to 19 years and 4.2 percent in women aged 20 to 24 years.
HIV Cascade.
The updated Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) targets for 2025 aim for 95 percent of those living with HIV to know their status, 95 percent of those who know their status to be on treatment and 95 percent of those on treatment to be virally suppressed. The preliminary results of the survey show encouraging progress toward the achievement of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, particularly among women. Specifically, the survey showed that in adults 15 years and above: 80.9 percent of those living with HIV were aware of their status, 96.1 percent of those aware of their HIV status were on ART, and 92.2 percent of those on ART were virally suppressed. These measures demonstrate improvement in all three targets compared to the first UPHIA survey, conducted in 2016-17, which also measured national population-level HIV incidence, prevalence, and viral load suppression. Together, the results from both surveys provide information on national and regional progress toward HIV epidemic control.
Male Circumcision:
Male circumcision is one of the strategies for HIV prevention in Uganda. The proportion of men aged 15 to 49 years that reported being circumcised increased from 42.2 percent in 2016 to 57.5 percent in 2020. UPHIA 2020 found that the prevalence of male circumcision was highest among young people aged 15 to 24 years at 63 percent. The coverage of male circumcision continues to vary considerably among geographical regions, from a low of 20.6 percent in the Karamoja sub-region to a high of 73.3 percent in Kampala. The coverage of male circumcision among adult men increased in all regions between 2016-17 and 2020.
HIV/AIDS Impact to the young people
The HIV and AIDS epidemic negatively impacts the young population in Uganda, especially the Adolescent Girls and Young women; nearly 210 AGYW are newly infected with HIV every week. Gender-based inequalities are both a consequence and driver of the HIV epidemic. In 2021, Uganda registered about 15,000 new HIV infections among adolescents and young people (AYP) 15-24 years, and 79% of these were AGYW. In addition, AGYW 15-24 years are twice likely to acquire HIV than their male peers; five of six new HIV infections (82%) in the age group 15–19 years and two-thirds of new HIV infections (69%) in the age group 20–24 years were in females. Their risks of acquiring HIV and the challenges in accessing services are substantial, fueled by stigma, discrimination, inequalities and legal barriers. Given what is known and what works in breaking the cycle of gender-based discrimination and transforming the futures of AGYW, there is a need to refocus the attention of the Government and key stakeholders on the education of AGYW in the country to reap the benefits of completing secondary education.
Education is the greatest equalizer, and when appropriately offered, everyone is allowed to explore their full potential and be able to participate in the development process. Education access empowers girls and boys as it enhances their ability to access decent jobs and other means of production, thus alleviating poverty
In 2021, Uganda had an estimated population of 42.9 million people. It has the second youngest population worldwide; 53% are below 18 years of age, and 76% of the population is below 30, implying a rapidly growing labour force. The country also has a high population growth rate of 3% and a fertility rate of five children per woman. At this growth rate, the population is projected to increase to 52.3 million by 2025, 59.4 million by 2030 and 74.5 million by 20406. Almost one-third of households are
Impact on the Education and Sports Sector
(i) Decreased demand for education due to increase in orphan hood, health deterioration of students, absenteeism / irregular attendance and dropouts.
(ii) Decreased supply of education due to increase in teacher morbidity and mortality, workload, absenteeism, attrition and poor quality of teaching and increased demand for treatment and other AIDS services and costs within an already struggling sector.
(iii) Resource reallocations have been made due to the need to reform curricula, policies, plans and budgets of the sector.
(iv) Overall quality of education has been negatively impacted and attainment of the “Education for All” goal is negatively impacted.
