29% pregnant SA women HIV+

Health ministry warns nation saying they would be in big trouble if pandemic is not controlled

Health ministry warns nation saying they would be in "big trouble" if pandemic is not controlled

The prevalence of HIV among pregnant South African women is "unacceptably high" and that country could be in "big trouble" if it did not take drastic measures to control the pandemic.

That is the warning sounded by South African health minister Aaron Motsoaledi while releasing the results of the 2008 HIV antenatal survey in Pretoria on Monday.

The findings showed that the prevalence of HIV infections among pregnant women tested was 29.3 per cent, down slightly from 29.4 per cent in 2007.

The survey was the most important indicator of HIV prevalence among pregnant women who attended public facilities for check-ups.

"The epidemic is hitting South Africa very hard. And the battle on the health system is something that is not imaginable.

Huge Concern: The infection rate is the highest among women in their early 30s, finds survey.

"And if we don't do anything about it in South Africa, we are going to be in very serious trouble."

A total of 33,927 women were tested in the survey. Women between the ages of 30 and 34 had the highest infection rate, up by almost one per cent in 2008.

However, the rate among women between 15 and 24 showed a slight decline, from 22.1 per cent in 2007 to 21.7 percent in 2008.

The Australian and New Zealand teams, who contested the Champions Trophy final in Pretoria on Monday, wore pink ribbons as a gesture of support to South Africa's campaign to create awareness about HIV.