Sudan is bordered by seven countries in which HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent, therefore Sudan is susceptible to an increase in HIV/AIDS prevalence. In 1986, the first case of HIV and AIDS in Sudan was reported.[1] Sudan's HIV epidemiological situation is currently classified as a low epidemic, as of July 2011.[2]

Transmission

The main mode of transmission worldwide is through heterosexual contact, which is no different in Sudan.[1] In Sudan, heterosexual transmission accounted for 97% of HIV positive cases.

Prevalence

As of January 5, 2011, the adult (15–49) prevalence in Sudan was found to be 0.4%, an estimated 260,000 were living with HIV and there were 12,000 HIV related annual deaths.[3] A population based study was conducted in 2002 which estimated the sero-prevalence to be 1.6%. According to recent studies, the HIV and AIDS prevalence in Sudan among blood donors has increased from 0.15% in 1993 to 1.4% in 2000.[1] Sudan is considered to be a country with an intermediate HIV and AIDS prevalence[1] by the World Health Organization (WHO).[4]

HIV/AIDS estimates as of 2014:[5]

HIV prevalence 53,000 [41,000–69,000]
Ages 15–49 prevalence rates 0.2% [0.2–0.3%]
Ages 15 and above living with HIV 49,000 [38,000–63,000]
Women aged 15 and above living with HIV 23,000 [18,000–29,000]
Ages 0–14 living with HIV 4,300 [3,600–5,200]
AIDS related deaths 2,900 [2,200–4,200]

Treatment, care and support

HIV/AIDS related-services have been introduced in all the states of Sudan. Free services have been provided across the country, which have significantly improved the life of people living with HIV.[2]

Government policy

As recently as 1998, the Sudanese government denied that HIV/AIDS posed any significant health threat to its citizenry.[6] Only in 2004 did the government reverse its policy and officially begin planning to address the problem.[6] As of 2007, both Northern and Southern governments were developing policies to curb future cases and to treat those already infected.[6] The minister of health in the North noted problems with the use of condoms as a preventive measure, and religious leaders were reluctant to discuss prevention methods beyond abstinence and monogamous marriage.[6] Not surprisingly, citizens' knowledge about HIV/AIDS is limited.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d UNAIDS, U., and WHO: assessment of the epidemiological situation. UNAIDS; 2004.
  2. ^ a b "HIV/AIDS prevention and control | Programmes | Sudan". WHO EMRO.
  3. ^ "Global Health Observatory Data Repository". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. ^ Summary Country Profile for HIV/AIDS (PDF), WHO, 2005, retrieved October 13, 2007
  5. ^ "Sudan". UNAIDS. 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e Bechtold, Peter K. (2015). "Diseases" (PDF). In Berry, LaVerle (ed.). Sudan: a country study (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-8444-0750-0. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Though published in 2015, this work covers events in the whole of Sudan (including present-day South Sudan) until the 2011 secession of South Sudan.((cite encyclopedia)): CS1 maint: postscript (link)
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