In South Africa there is growing concern around the high prevalence of rape and sexual harassment, where women are subjected to violent sexual assaults that expose them to HIV, other STDs and pregnancy. High risk groups such as intravenous drug users, commercial sex workers, migrant workers and truckers continue to show high infection rates. The disease often affects economically active individuals and those with dependants, which results in changes in patterns of employment and economic activity. It also reduces average life expectancies and results in higher proportions of orphaned children. At the behavioural level , it is well understood that personal choice is not always the main reason that a person becomes HIV-positive.
Human behaviour is shaped by interpersonal, cultural, social and economic factors.
We need to understand both individual behaviour as well as the complex social factors that lead to HIV infection and need to develop strategies that are holistic and integrated. Infection trends are interesting to analyse and provide good insights into how the disease progresses over time. The graph below shows the trends for high risk and low risk groups. What the graph shows is that HIV infection has a peak, after which infection levels drop off. The graph can be applied to national statistics, or to levels of infection in particular communities or sectors.