Health in Namibia - Hospitals in Namibia, HIV-AIDS in Namibia, Katutura State Hospital, Roman Catholic Hospital, Cottage Medi-Clinic (Paperback)

Chapters: Hospitals in Namibia, Hiv/aids in Namibia, Katutura State Hospital, Roman Catholic Hospital, Cottage Medi-Clinic, Gobabis State Hospital, Windhoek Central Hospital, Rundu State Hospital. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 23. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: HIV/AIDS in Namibia is a critical public health issue. The prevalence of HIV in Namibia is among the highest in the world. Since 1996, HIV has been the leading cause of death in the country. Close to 17 per cent of the countrys children under the age of 18 are orphaned by at least one parent mostly due to HIV. Consquently, life expectancy has declined since independence from 61 years (in 1991) to 49 years in 2001. In Namibia, HIV is mainly spread through heterosexual sex, driven by high rates of multiple and concurrent partnerships, transactional sex and child abuse, misperceptions in the general population about the risk of contracting HIV, low and inconsistent condom use, low rates of male circumcision, high rates of alcohol abuse, a high rate of mobility and migration, and a decline in marital and cohabitating unions. Of greatest concern to many are the AIDS orphans and vulnerable children left behind in the trails of this disease. To determine prevalence, the Namibian government conducts a bi-annual serological survey among pregnant women, ages 15-49. The survey is done anonymously during routine antenatal care visits, which means that the results cannot be linked to anyone. In 2008, Namibia had an HIV prevalence rate of 17.8% in adults ages 15 to 49, which is lower than 19.9% in 2006. However, the figure is still quite distressing. The peak occurred in 2002 when Namibias prevalence hit 22%. The most recent survey (2008) further indicates that HIV prevalence is highest at 27% in the 30-34 year-old age group and is at it...http: //booksllc.net/?id=1902787