The development of a localised HIV epidemic and the associated excess mortality burden in a rural area of South Africa.

ABSTRACT: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in South Africa rapidly developed into a major pandemic. Here we analyse the development of the epidemic in a rural area of the country. The data used were collected between 1992 and 2013 in a longitudinal population survey, the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Study, in the northeast of the country. Throughout the period of study mortality rates were similar in all villages, suggesting that there were multiple index cases evenly spread geographically. These were likely to have been returning migrant workers. For those aged below 39 years the HIV mortality rate was higher for women, above this age it was higher for men. This indicates the protective effect of greater access to HIV testing and treatment among older women. The rece

SUBMITTER: Mee P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5738674 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature