HIV Prevalence Rises in Swaziland Despite Efforts to Fight DiseaseMay 24, 2005 This article is part of TheBody.com's archive. Because it contains information that may no longer be accurate, this article should only be considered a historical document. Toronto's Globe and Mail on Tuesday examined the "unexpected" rise in Swaziland's estimated HIV prevalence rate from 38.6% in 2002 to 42.6% in 2004 -- the highest rate in the world -- despite "massive efforts to stop the spread of the disease." African AIDS advocates said the results of the latest HIV sentinel survey conducted in 2004 among women at prenatal clinics are "shocking and devastating," according to the Globe and Mail. Following the 2002 sentinel survey, the government "poured money" into HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, and the Global Fund To Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria has contributed about $16 million to HIV/AIDS programs in the country, the Globe and Mail reports. However, many Swazi men continue to "justify" the traditional practice of polygamy, which contributes to the spread of HIV. King Mswati III, "who holds enormous cultural influence as well as political power," has more than 12 wives, according to the Globe and Mail (Nolen [1], Globe and Mail, 5/24). Toronto-Based Company Developing Vaginal Microbicide Back to other news for May 24, 2005
Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/hiv. The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of the Kaiser Family Foundation, by The Advisory Board Company. © 2004 by The Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved. This article is part of TheBody.com's archive. Because it contains information that may no longer be accurate, this article should only be considered a historical document. This article was provided by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. It is a part of the publication Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report.
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