Nearly 7% of South African children between the ages of two and nine are infected with HIV according to a survey presented this week at the Social Aspects of HIV and Aids Research Alliance (Sahara) conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
Dr Olive Shisana of the South African Human Sciences Research Council reported HIV prevalence among children in the 2-9 age group of 6.7%, far higher than previously expected. The findings come from the National Household HIV Prevalence and Risk Survey of South African Children funded by the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
A total of 3,988 children and teenagers participated in the survey. 3,294 individuals (82.6%) provided a saliva specimen for HIV testing.
Almost 10% of the 2-9 group had already lost at least one parent, whilst a quarter of adolescents in the 15-18 age group had lost at least one parent. Three per cent of children aged 12-18 said that they were now the head of the household.
The study also found that 5% of children between the ages of 2-11 years, and over 10% of those aged 12-14 were not adequately monitored, raising concerns that these children may be at risk of HIV infection from others either through sexual assaults or through unprotected sexual intercourse with other adolescents.
"At least a third of children aged between 2-11 and two-thirds of children aged between 12-14 are allowed outside the home yards without adult supervision," Dr Shisana told the conference.