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Question: What is the HIV occurrence rate in Ghana? How does it compare with other African countries?

HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in Ghana and Africa as a whole. According to 2000 statistics, 36.1 million people are HIV positive worldwide, 21.8 million of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately three percent of the adult population of Ghana is HIV positive. On top of these 330,000 adults, 20,000 children are infected with the virus. This situation is aggravated by the continuing lack of a cure and the need for more statistics and information about the problem.

Despite these figures, there is evidence that HIV/AIDS is on the decline in Ghana. UN statistics show that 2003 was the highest year of HIV prevalence in Ghana, when the adult prevalence rate was 3.6%. 2006 estimates show a 2.3% adult prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS. While there is usually a significant disparity between urban and rural rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, national statistics reveal a 2.3% prevalence rate in urban areas and a 2.0% prevalence rate for rural areas in Ghana. In Burkina Faso in the north, statistics reveal only a 2.0% adult prevalence rate. The North and East have lower rates of HIV/AIDS compared to the South and West.

Travel Log: http://laureninghana.blogspot.com/

Relevant pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ticky/4683898/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/65539994@N00/381525618/

Links:

United States Agency for International Development report on HIV/AIDS in Ghana: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNACN254.pdf United Nations HIV/AIDS Global Statistics: http://data.unaids.org/pub/EpiReport/2006/12-Maps_2006_EpiUpdate_eng.pdf