About 18 000 new HIV infections in the country are expected in 2012.
This is according to a Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (JUNPS) report which was presented yesterday by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe.

The report states that out of every 100 HIV negative people in Swaziland it was estimated that three would become infected with HIV every year, translating to an incidence of three per cent.
The report said an estimated 16 200 new HIV infections in adults and children occurred in 2008.
The report reads that given the high pandemic levels in Swaziland it was critical that the country diverted most of its efforts in ensuring that new infections were reduced significantly.

In Swaziland the HIV pandemic is first and foremost driven by heterosexual transmission where the Modes of Transmission study states that 68 per cent of new adult infections occur among individuals above 25 years with a majority occurring among females.
“It has further been established that transmission occurs mainly between those in long term stable relationships where multiple concurrent partnerships rather than commercial sex or casual sex plays a role,” reads the report.
The report says new infections occurring in children from 0-14 years are also considered to contribute significantly to the new infections accounting for 19 per cent of the total.

“This is attributed to the non-use of preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), partial efficancy of the Nevirapine regimen and non-exclusive breastfeeding by HIV positive mothers and sexual abuse of children,” it reads.

Another worrying trend according to the report was the increase in prevalence among young pregnant women from 15-24 years which indicated continuity of new infections in that group.
The sharpest increase was found from the group of 15-19 years where it increased by 12 per cent.
Key populations that are at risk according to the report are identified as prisoners, sex workers, migrant workers and uniformed services.