Introduction
Uganda was one of the countries
that were affected with AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, but has successfully gained
international reputation for combating HIV&AIDS. The prevalence of HIV in
Uganda fell from 18% in the late 1980s to as low as 6.4% in 2005 (MOH,
2006). In 2011, the prevalence rose to 7.3% (MOH,
2012) which meant that Uganda is one
of the few countries in the World where the prevalence is rising despite the various interventions
being implemented. The UNAIDS put the number of new
infections at 150,000 in 2011, up from 120,000 in 2004 (PEPFAR, 2014) and these excludes older persons. According to Uganda AIDS
Commission, approximately 80% of HIV infections arise from heterosexual transmission,
20% from mother-to-child infection and less than 1% from blood-borne infection.
Nationally, only 36% of women and 43% of men aged 15-49 have a comprehensive
knowledge of HIV&AIDS(MOH, 2012).
Key Concerns
HIV messaging among Older Persons: Older persons and the general population don’t
have similar levels of knowledge about HIV&AIDS due to variations in
messaging. It is clear that there is lack of HIV messages targeting older persons.
This means that other factors are also likely to be responsible for the
difference in knowledge and prevalence of HIV in the general population and that
of older persons. Sexual behaviour, living conditions and the lifestyle of
older people especially those who have money are some of the factors that make
older people particularly vulnerable. While as, some older persons can read and
write, many of them are very illiterate as they can neither read nor write.
For Information please this link.....Policy Brief on Inclusion of HIV Messages for Older Persons in the National HIV Behavioural Change Communication Programmes
Posted by Esther Namirimu/Communication Officer of UNASO.
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