November 8, 2007

HIV Targeting South Africa’s Thirtysomethings

According to new data released Wednesday, November 7 by the South African Institute of Race Relations, mortality rates for young adults in the region have increased by 213 percent in the last decade—attributed mostly to HIV/AIDS (iafrica.com, 11/8).

In 1997, 18,983 South Africans died between the ages of 30 and 34. This year, that number jumped to 59,360. In addition, the institute’s latest report shows that more than 18 percent of the region’s total workforce is currently living with HIV/AIDS.

“The huge upswing in deaths of young adults can only be attributed to the progressing HIV/AIDS pandemic in S.A.,” says Marco MacFarlane, head of research at the Institute. “Unfortunately, that is not the worst of it, as the latest estimates show that HIV/AIDS will soon account for more deaths per year than every other cause of death combined.”