HIV transmission still high among key groups - study

Transmission of HIV remains high among key groups and could undermine Uganda's efforts to tame the scourge by the year 2020, a new report reveals.

The 2017 Crane Survey Report shows a very high risk of infection among female sex workers, drug users, people with multiple partners, transgender women and men who have sex with men.

HIV prevalence remains highest among female sex workers at 31%, people with multiple partners (25%), people who use drugs (17%) and refugees (6.1%).

According to the report released on Thursday, higher prevalence of HIV was also found among transgender women (20%) and men who sleep with men (12.7%).

The study was conducted by Makerere University School of Public Health, US Centers for Disease control and Prevention and the ministry of health between 2012 and 2013 covering Kampala.

The HIV prevalence among the high risk groups is above the national average of 6.2%. The prevalence rate has been declining over the years, largely due to a drop in new infections.

Statistics from the ministry of health show that new infections dropped to 99,000 cases in 2014, down from 140,000 recorded in the year 2013. About 1.6 million people are living with HIV in Uganda.

Researchers want government and partners to pay special attention to the high-risk groups to address their peculiar needs and slow the spread of HIV.

"We need to reach everyone if we want to meet our targets on HIV. The high-risk group interact with the general population on a daily basis," said Dr Herbert Kiyingi, one of the researchers.