TOP 10 COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST HIV INFECTION RATES

The number of Kenyans receiving life-extending antiretroviral treatment for HIV has doubled in the past decade.

The present shortage of condoms in Kenya has sparked concerns that the rate of new HIV infections may increase, exacerbating the country’s AIDS catastrophe. While the government claims there is no shortage, many in the medical community say it has reached crisis levels, putting the sexual health of Kenyans at danger.

Fears that many Kenyans, inspired by Valentine’s Day festivities, would engage in risky sexual behavior that could spread HIV and other STIs and result in unwanted pregnancies prompted the discussion. This is a major concern because new HIV infections have been on the rise recently.

The estimated number of new HIV infections for 2021 was 34,540, an increase of 7.3% over the estimated number for 2020 of 32,025. In more than a decade, this is the first year that the number of new HIV infections has increased. From 490,437 in 2012 to 1,122,334 by the end of 2021, that is the estimated increase in the number of HIV-positive Kenyans receiving life-extending antiretroviral therapy, with 73.3% of those receiving treatment achieving viral suppression, as reported by 2022 World AIDS Days.

Nairobi, Kisumu, Homabay, Siaya, Migori, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kakamega, Kisii, and Uasin Gishu accounted for 57% of all new HIV infections recorded in 2021, according to the study by the National Syendemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), previously NACC.

The rate of decline in new HIV infections in Laikipia County was the highest in the country between 2020 and 2021, at 25%. Nakuru, Nyeri, Kilifi, Bomet, Kericho, Kiambu, Makueni, and Elgeyo-Marakwet were among the counties that had a decline in new HIV infections, joining Nairobi and Uasin Gishu.

The same time period saw a rise of almost 30% in new HIV diagnoses in other low-burden counties. Samburu, Isiolo, Wajir, Marsabit, Turkana, Lamu, and Tana River counties all saw increases in new HIV infections of around 30% between 2020 and 2021, with Samburu County seeing the greatest increase.

Women and girls continue to face the brunt of the pandemic’s effects, according to the research. About 70% (20,505) of the new cases of HIV that year were diagnosed in females.

More women and girls than men and boys of the same age become infected with HIV, with eight out of ten new infections happening in adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 24. This contributes to the feminization of the disease.

Men and boys between the ages of 20 and 39 accounted for 76% (6,700) of the 8,874 new HIV infections in those aged 15 and older.

Source: Kenya digest