Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 13, 2008
Anthony Bugembe
"The reduction over the years in the prevalence of HIV and the availability of anti-retroviral drugs has made many people think that HIV is no longer a problem. The number of people engaging in unprotected casual sex is on the increase, while many couples are having extra-marital sexual relationships," said Dr. Alex Opio, the National Disease Control assistant commissioner.
He was addressing participants at a symposium at Protea Hotel in Kampala on Monday. Opio also expressed concern that there was a decrease in messages on risk avoidance due to lack of funding.
Dr. Sam Okware, the Uganda National Health Research Organisation director general, said: "The deterioration in sexual behaviour has mainly affected the youth. They are treating the risk of contracting HIV lightly because they did not witness the days when the virus was at its worst."
According to the 2004/2005 Uganda HIV/AIDS Sero-Behaviour survey, HIV-prevalence among 15-24 year-olds is 2.9%.
The prevalence among females in the same age group is three times higher than that of their male counterparts.
The survey also states that the majority of HIV-infected people do not know their sero-status. About 60% of married couples are in discordant relationships, which increases their risk of contracting HIV. Discordance refers to a case in which one partner is HIV-positive and the other is negative.
Health experts said plans were underway to enlist political support for medical male circumcision as a strategy to reducing HIV-transmission.
The media have quoted the President as warning that circumcision alone will not fight HIV.
Dr. Noah Kiwanuka, a member of the Rakai Health Sciences Programme, said: "We need to convince him (President) that circumcision reduces the risks of HIV-transmission.
Research carried out between 2005 and 2007 in Uganda (Rakai), Kenya and South Africa showed that circumcision reduces chances of contracting HIV in men by 60%.
About 130,000 Ugandans get infected with HIV every year and over one million others are living with HIV/AIDS.
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