Women of reproductive age highly infected with HIV

Women of reproductive age continue to significantly contribute to new HIV infections in Kenya, despite a gradual decline in overall cases, according to data by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC).

The 2023 data highlights that women aged 15 to 54 years are particularly affected.

HIV infections among women begin to rise at age 15, for example at least 28, 967 women in the age bracket of 15 and 19 years were infected with HIV, as compared 22, 860 men in the same age group.

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The numbers increased to 51, 702 among those in the age bracket of 20 and 24, against 28,251 in men.

The highest infections of HIV in women was recorded among those in age bracket of 30 to 34 years that had 101, 712 against 52,451 in men, whereas 30 to 39 years had 131, 437 infections while 61,771 men got infected.

Similarly, at least 125,306 women in the age brcaket of 40 to 44 acquired the virus, against 63,580 in men.

Caroline Kinoti said attributed the increased numbers of women acquiring the virus to reproduction age, as a number are settling for a marriage and family.

A number of the women acquiring the virus she added are also in high school, college and university.

“15 to 34 years are ages in which more individuals (females) are infected. These are mostly school going, college, or those who have dropped out of school,” said Kinoti, adding that a number of the women also face triple threat and that the best ways to prevent them from early pregnancies and acquiring the virus is to keep them in school.

Kinoti noted that teenage pregnancy is a proxy-indicator of heightened risk to HIV infection, with pregnancy among adolescents' girls often associated with negative health and social outcomes to both the mother and baby, and may lead to intergrational cycles of poverty, poor education and unemployment.

The NSDCC report noted the need for concerted efforts to prevent new HIV infections in age bracket of below 24 years.

Additionally, it was noted that there is disproportionate reduction of new infections among various age groups.

There are higher new infections among females, at 10, 784 as compared to 5,968 in men.

In 2023, a total of 16, 752 new infections were reported, a slight reduction from 22, 154 recorded in 2022.

Of the figure, cases of adults above 15 years were 13,009, young adults aged between 15 and 24 who acquired the virus were 5, 030,, while 2, 084 were new infections among adolescent aged between 10 and 19 years.

Children between zero and 14 years counted for 3, 743 new infections, with a number of the cases attributed to vertical (mother to child) transmission.

Despite high infections reported among women and girls, Kinoti emphasised on the need to focus on men and boys to help reduce the transmission as a bigger percentage is attributed to sexual activities.

“We have more girls and women getting new HIV infections as compared to men, which is actually double,” said Kinoti. “We however need to focus on boys and men because new infections are as a result of sex which involves men and boys.

Kinoti acknowledged that in the past, more focus has been on girls and women, which should shift, to have men champion for prevention of HIV, testing, treatment and suppression of viral load. Kenya has however made a stride in reducing prevalence of HIV, with efforts made to end AIDS related deaths by 2030.

In 2023, 1, 378,457 Kenyans were living with HIV, among them, 71, 433 are children aged between zero and 14 years.

The country’s prevalence stands at 3.3 per cent, with HIV epidemic displaying a great geographic disparity, with prevalence ranging from a low of 0.1 per cent in Wajir to a high of 11.7 per cent in Kisumu. Counties of Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Busia, Mombasa, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu and Kisii are among those recording high prevalence of the viral disease.

In the last 10 years, new HIV prevalence has declined by 83 per cent across all population from 101, 448 in 2013 to 16, 752 in 2023.

As per the data, adolescents and young adults aged 15 and 34 contributed to 73 per cent of all new adult HIV infections in 2023, with at least 51 per cent of new infections occurring in nine counties.

The counties include Nairobi, Nakuru, Homa Bay, Siaya, Kakamega, Kajiado, Trans Nzoia, Machakos and Narok.

Dr Japheth Kioko, a statistician with NSDCC’s Monitoring and Evaluation Division, noted disparities in the reduction of infections, for example, HIV transmission in children decreased by 71 per cent between 2013 and 2023, compared to an 85 per cent reduction in adults.

“Reduction in new infections among children is slower compared to adults. We need to close the gap to protect HIV-negative populations and prevent new infections,” said Dr Kioko.

Kenya has however made significant strides in reducing HIV prevalence, with an 83 per cent decline in new infections over the past decade, from 101,448 in 2013 to 16,752 in 2023.

Currently, 1,378,457 Kenyans live with HIV, including 71,433 children aged zero to 14 years.

The national prevalence stands at 3.3 per cent.

As Kenya works to achieve its goal of ending AIDS-related deaths by 2030, maintaining focus on prevention, treatment, and viral suppression remains crucial.

“We aim to stop HIV-related mortality and ensure people live healthy lives. When individuals are on ART and achieve viral suppression, they cannot transmit HIV,” added Kioko.

He emphasised the government’s role in reducing HIV-related deaths. “It is our responsibility to scale down HIV-related deaths and stop new infections in HIV-negative populations,".