Facts about discordance
Discordance is where one sexual partner is HIV-positive and the other is not. <br><br>Globally, cases of HIV discordant couples are increasing.
Discordance is where one sexual partner is HIV-positive and the other is not.
Globally, cases of HIV discordant couples are increasing.
HIV discordance is related to a combination of factors that include genetics, HIV type, the extent to which the infection has progressed in the positive partner, presence of other sexually transmitted diseases, use of anti-retroviral drugs, tears (scratches) that occur during sex and circumcision – which research indicates may reduce the risk of HIV infection.
One in every 20 couples living together are HIV discordant.
90% of Ugandans do not know the HIV status of their sexual partners.
Only about 20-25% of Ugandans have ever tested for HIV and received the results.
About 10-12% have tested in the last 12 months.
The highest HIV prevalence for men is among 35-39 year-olds (9.9%) compared to 30-34 year-olds (12%) among women.
According to TASO, 54% of couples who tested at their centres in Masaka are discordant.
In 2007, there was 33 million people living with HIV, 2.7 million new HIV infections and 2 million HIV/AIDS related deaths globally. Sub Saharan Africa contributed 67% of all the people living with HIV/AIDS and 75% of the related deaths due to AIDS.
Currently 6.4% Ugandan adults are infected with HIV. There are about 110,000 new infections and an estimated 63,000 deaths from AIDS annually.
New infections were highest (66%) among married, followed by 20% widowed or divorced, while 74% of new infections are among people above 25 and only 10% of new infections were recorded among single people.
At least 88% of men in union have had sex with someone other than their lifetime spouses as compared to 56% for women.
A study done by the Uganda AIDS Commission in seven districts indicates 64% of people who tested did not disclose their status to their partners.
Many men do not test for HIV once their women are tested during antenatal visits. 80%, including those who are already positive, do not know their HIV status.
Discordant couples are common in polygamous and urban couples. Kampala has the highest discordant couples with 5.1% of the women having an HIV negative man.
Negative parties in discordant relationships are advised to seek psychosocial counselling to cope with the realisation and the obligation to protect themselves.
Globally, cases of HIV discordant couples are increasing.
HIV discordance is related to a combination of factors that include genetics, HIV type, the extent to which the infection has progressed in the positive partner, presence of other sexually transmitted diseases, use of anti-retroviral drugs, tears (scratches) that occur during sex and circumcision – which research indicates may reduce the risk of HIV infection.
One in every 20 couples living together are HIV discordant.
90% of Ugandans do not know the HIV status of their sexual partners.
Only about 20-25% of Ugandans have ever tested for HIV and received the results.
About 10-12% have tested in the last 12 months.
The highest HIV prevalence for men is among 35-39 year-olds (9.9%) compared to 30-34 year-olds (12%) among women.
According to TASO, 54% of couples who tested at their centres in Masaka are discordant.
In 2007, there was 33 million people living with HIV, 2.7 million new HIV infections and 2 million HIV/AIDS related deaths globally. Sub Saharan Africa contributed 67% of all the people living with HIV/AIDS and 75% of the related deaths due to AIDS.
Currently 6.4% Ugandan adults are infected with HIV. There are about 110,000 new infections and an estimated 63,000 deaths from AIDS annually.
New infections were highest (66%) among married, followed by 20% widowed or divorced, while 74% of new infections are among people above 25 and only 10% of new infections were recorded among single people.
At least 88% of men in union have had sex with someone other than their lifetime spouses as compared to 56% for women.
A study done by the Uganda AIDS Commission in seven districts indicates 64% of people who tested did not disclose their status to their partners.
Many men do not test for HIV once their women are tested during antenatal visits. 80%, including those who are already positive, do not know their HIV status.
Discordant couples are common in polygamous and urban couples. Kampala has the highest discordant couples with 5.1% of the women having an HIV negative man.
Negative parties in discordant relationships are advised to seek psychosocial counselling to cope with the realisation and the obligation to protect themselves.