HIV/AIDS in Haiti

Haiti has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the entire Caribbean.^[1] By the end of 2005, the national HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 49 was 3.8 percent^[2] but has since decreased to 2.2 percent by the end of 2008 due to effective HIV/AIDS education programs, and increased standard of medical treatment.

In Haiti, HIV is primarily transmitted through heterosexual contact, followed by mother-to-infant transmission. The recent declines in HIV infection rates are most notable in urban areas, and have been attributed to significant behavioral changes, including decreased number of partners, decreased sexual debut, and increased condom use. Other explanations for the recent trends include AIDS-related mortality and improvements made in blood safety early in the epidemic. Continued political instability, high internal migration rates, high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, and weakened health and social services persist as factors with potential negative impacts on the epidemic. Antiretroviral coverage in Haiti is minimal for rural populations, people in prostitution, and men who have sex with men — ultimately reaching more than 87 percent of the people who need it.^[2]

See also

• HIV/AIDS in North America

References