The current national HIV prevalence among antenatal clients stands at 1.8 percent, results of the 2015 HIV Sentinel Survey (HSS) Report indicate.
The release of the report after a successful survey conducted in all 40 antenatal clinics and two STI clinics nationwide with over 18,000 samples, showed a slight increase from previous year’s prevalence of 1.6 percent.
A regional breakdown of the results of the survey showed Greater Accra overtaking Eastern Region with the highest prevalence of 3.2 percent. The region also accounted for four out of the seven sites sampled with prevalence above four percent – Adabraka, Maamobi, Korle-Bu and Dangme East.
The Eastern Region which previously had a prevalence of 3.7 dropped to 2.7 percent, with Ashanti Region also recording a prevalence of 2.7 percent. They were followed by Western Region with two percent, Central with 1.8 percent and Brong-Ahafo and Volta with 1.7 percent each.
The three northern regions recorded the lowest HIV rates, with Upper East having 1.5 percent HIV prevalence among antenatal clients, followed by Upper West with 1.3 percent prevalence and Northern Region with 1.2 percent prevalence.
Prevalence in the Northern Region increased by 100 percent, despite still being the region with the lowest prevalence (0.6 to 1.2) due to notable increases in Adibo and Nalerigu sites,” the report said.
The report indicated that overall, increases were recorded in Greater Accra, Central, Northern and Upper East regions, but the prevalence in the Upper West Region remained the same, while the rest of the regions recorded decreases in prevalence.
Also, individuals aged 35 to 39 recorded the highest prevalence among the sample age 15 to 49 with 3.4 per cent prevalence.
They were followed by those aged 30 to 34 with 2.9 percent prevalence, 40 to 44 years with 2.6 percent; 25 to 29 years with 2.0 percent and 45 to 49 years recorded 1.9 percent.
Antenatal clients aged 15 to 19 recorded the lowest HIV prevalence with 0.7 percent, followed by those aged 20 to 24 with 1.3 percent prevalence.
Also among the highest HIV prevalence age group, those in the urban areas recorded higher rates than those in the rural areas with 4.2 percent to 1.8 percent.
However, the report showed an overall downwards trend in the HIV prevalence from 2000 to 2015, recording a reduction from 2.3 percent in 2000 to 1.8 percent in 2015.
For the past three years, the HIV prevalence in the country has remained below two percent.
The report also called for increased effort in the prevention of new infections amongst women because it is essential to ensure the elimination of mother-to-child transmission rates in Ghana.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri