Jornal de AIDS e Pesquisa Clínica

Comparing HIV Testing Strategies in Uganda: Is Assisted Partner Testing More Yielding in HIV Testing?

Abstract

Vian Namanya, Dickens Owamaani, Edmund Byamukama

HIV remains a global human threat with about 39 million people infected and it has claimed the lives of over 25 million over the last 25 years. Over 80% of these are in sub-Saharan Africa. As of 2019, Uganda had an estimated population of 41.5 million, of whom 1,915,533 live with HIV/AIDS with HIV incidence among susceptible individuals at 1.4%, the ultimate highest. About 53000 people were infected with HIV in 2018 whereas 23000 died of the illness in Uganda in 2018. In Uganda, 84% of the people living with HIV knew their status, 72% were on ART and 64% were virally suppressed. Among adults (15-64 years, the most sexually active), the prevalence is 6.2%. In western Uganda, the prevalence stands at 7.9% slightly below western Nile with the highest at 8%.