Background

Background

 

Zambia is located in southern Africa and has a population size of almost 10 million. It has been one of the countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. The following table gives a snapshot of the HIV/AIDS situation in Zambia.

 

HIV/AIDS IN ZAMBIA

 

INDICATOR

ESTIMATE

HIV Prevalence Rates

   Prevalence rate, adults age 15–49

21.5%

   Prevalence rate, females age 15–24

Low estimate: 16.8%

High estimate: 25.2%

   Prevalence rate, males age 15–24

Low estimate: 6.5%

High estimate: 9.7%

   Median prevalence in antenatal clinics, major urban areas

30.7%

   Median prevalence in antenatal clinics, outside major urban areas

13.0%

   Median prevalence in male STI patients in major urban areas

59.7%

   Median prevalence in female sex workers in major urban areas

68.7

Key Behaviors

   Median age at first sex (in years), females age 20–24

16.6

   Median age at first sex (in years), males age 20–24

16.0

   Reported condom use at last higher-risk sex, females age 15–24

17.6%

   Reported condom use at last higher-risk sex, males age 15–24

30.1%
Children Affected by HIV/AIDS

   Orphan prevalence, 2001 estimate

17.6%

   AIDS orphans as a percentage of total orphans, 2001 estimate

65.4%

   Orphan prevalence, 2005 projection

19.4%

   AIDS orphans as a percentage of total orphans, 2005 projection

73.8%

Data sources:

AIDS Epidemic Update—December 2002 (UNAIDS) <http://www.unaids.org/worldaidsday/2002/press/Epiupdate.html>

Children on the Brink 2002 (USAID) <http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNACP860.pdf>

 

 

Child Survival and Health Grants Program (CSHGP) Grantees Doing HIV/AIDS Work in Zambia

 

1.       Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)

·         Location(s): Chipata and Chadiza Districts, Eastern Province

·         Examples of program activities:

-          Training community health workers and traditional birth attendants in HIV/AIDS prevention

-          Community-based distribution of condoms

-          Collaboration with the Ministry of Education to support school-based anti-AIDS clubs

-          Child-to-child health education

-          Sensitization and training of Neighborhood Health Committees (consisting of headmen, traditional healers, and individuals from women’s groups and religious groups) on HIV/AIDS-related issues

 

ADRA has been implementing the current phase of its child survival project since October 1999. The project devotes 10 percent of its level of effort to the above HIV/AIDS-related activities.

 

2.       Project Concern International (PCI)

·         Location: Nchelenge District of Luapula Province (northeastern Zambia)

·         Examples of Program Activities: PCI is a recently awarded CSHGP grantee (The project was initiated in October 2002). The following are proposed areas for action during the life of the project:

-          Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT)

-          Prevention of mother-to-child transmission

-          Re-training of traditional birth attendants

-          Improved antenatal, reproductive health, and Safe Motherhood practices

 

Specific program strategies and activities will be finalized upon completion of the project’s baseline assessments and development of its overall project Detailed Implementation Plan. PCI has also done extensive HIV/AIDS-related work in Zambia prior to being awarded a CSHGP grant. The following are examples of its past activities:

-          Provided technical and coordination support to District Task Forces and other stakeholders to develop HIV/AIDS strategic plans

-          Mobilized partners from various sectors and government ministries

-          In collaboration with its local partners, initiated a pilot program (AfricaKidSAFE [Shelter, Advocacy, Food, and Education]) to support orphans and vulnerable children. Due to its success, the program is now being scaled up throughout the country

-          Established community schools

 

 

Technical Resources on HIV/AIDS in Zambia

 

·         For information on USAID’s HIV/AIDS support to Zambia:

            http://www.usaid.gov/pop_health/aids/Countries/africa/zambia.html


·         UNAIDS Epidemiological Fact Sheet on Zambia (2002):

            http://www.unaids.org/hivaidsinfo/statistics/fact_sheets/pdfs/Zambia_en.pdf

 

·         Examples of resources listed in the VRC that have information on Zambia:

 

RESOURCE DESCRIPTION

URL

CONDOMS—a searchable database of IEC materials and other resources on condoms (JHU/CCP)

http://condoms.jhuccp.org/

 

Trust is a Principal Barrier to Condom Use (PSI)

http://www.psi.org/resources/pubs/rb-1.pdf

HIV Counseling and Testing: A Gateway to Prevention and Care: Five Case Studies Related to PMTCT, TB, Young People, and Reaching the General Population (UNAIDS)

http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNACP801.pdf

Stigma, HIV/AIDS and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS: A Pilot Study in Zambia, India, Ukraine, and Burkina Faso

http://www.unicef.org/aids/publications/panosreportBS.pdf

USAID Project Profiles: Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (second edition)

http://www.usaid.gov/pop_health/aids/Publications/docs/cabaprojectprofiles.pdf