High percentage of undiagnosed HIV cases within a hyperendemic South African community: a population-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Undiagnosed HIV infections could undermine efforts to reverse the global AIDS epidemic by 2030. In this study, we estimated the percentage of HIV-positive persons who remain undiagnosed within a hyperendemic South African community.

Methods

The data come from a population-based surveillance system located in the Umkhanyakude district of the northern KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. We annually tested 38 661 adults for HIV between 2005 and 2016. Using the HIV-positive test results of 12 039 (31%) participants, we then back-calculated the incidence of infection and derived the number of undiagnosed cases from this result.

Results

The percentage of undiagnosed HIV cases decreased from 29.3% in 2005 to 15.8% in 2011. During this period, however, approximat

SUBMITTER: Vandormael A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6340103 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature