Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey ... - Measure DHS

Women who said they had higher-risk sex (i.e., sexual intercourse with a nonmarital,noncohabiting partner) during the year preceding the survey have a higher prevalence of HIV (11percent) than those who said they had sex but not higher-risk sex (6 percent). Surprisingly, however,HIV prevalence is as high among women who have not had sex in the year before the survey (11percent) as among those who had higher-risk sex. For men, prevalence of HIV infection is notdifferentiated by having higher-risk intercourse. Prevalence of HIV is 5 percent among men who hadhigher-risk sexual intercourse, while it is a bit higher (7 percent) for those who had sex but not higherrisksex. Prevalence among men who did not have sex in the previous 12 months is low (3 percent).HIV prevalence by the number of sexual partners in the 12 months before the survey showsthe expected positive relationship for men but not for women. Among men, HIV prevalence increasesas the number of partner increases. Prevalence of HIV is low (3 percent) among men who did nothave sex in the past 12 months and increases to 8 percent among men who had three or more partnersin the past year. Women who did not have sex in the year before the survey are more likely to beHIV-positive (11 percent) than those who had one or two sexual partners.Table 9.6 also shows data on HIV prevalence by the number of higher-risk partners in the past12 months. Women who had sex with one or two higher-risk partners have higher HIV prevalencethan those who did not have sex with higher-risk partners. For men, HIV prevalence is highest amongthose who had at least three higher-risk partners in the previous year (9 percent); however, it is alsohigher (6 percent) among those who did not have sex with higher-risk partners than those who hadone or two higher-risk sexual partners (4 and 5 percent, respectively).When used consistently and correctly, condoms are a very effective way of preventing HIVinfection, other sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancies. Results from the 2007-08THMIS do not show any consistent pattern of HIV prevalence by condom use behaviour. Amongwomen, HIV prevalence is higher among those who used a condom at last sexual intercourse in the 12months before the survey (12 percent) than among those who did not use condom at their last sex (6percent). It is about equally as high among those who used a condom at last higher-risk sex as amongthose who did not (10 and 11 percent, respectively). There are also no differences in HIV prevalenceamong men who used a condom at last sex and those who did not (both 6 percent) or among thosewho used a condom at last higher-risk sex and those who did not (both 5 percent).Prevalence of HIV increases steadily as the number of lifetime partners increases. Forwomen, HIV prevalence increases from 3 percent among those who have had only one sexual partnerto 22 percent among women who have had 10 or more lifetime partners. Among men, prevalence is 1percent for those with one lifetime partner and increases to 11 percent among men with 10 or morelifetime partners.9.7 HIV PREVALENCE AMONG YOUTHIn general, cases of HIV among youth represent more recent infections and serve as animportant indicator for detecting both prevalence and incidence. Table 9.7 shows HIV prevalencelevels among youth according to several indicators of sexual behaviour.Overall, HIV prevalence for the age group 15-24 is 2 percent—almost 3 percent for MainlandTanzania and less than 1 percent for Zanzibar. Prevalence differs by sex, from 4 percent amongwomen age 15-24 to 1 percent among men of the same age. Among women, prevalence generallyincreases with age, while for men, there is no consistent pattern. Urban youth are twice as likely to beinfected as youth in rural areas (4 percent and 2 percent). Overall, young people without anyeducation have a higher prevalence of HIV (4 percent) than those with secondary education (1percent). Interpretation of regional differences should be done with caution. Because in some regionsthe number of youth who were tested for HIV is small, the small differences may not be reliable.HIV Prevalence | 121