News / Health
Zimbabwe records 50% increase in HIV tests
01 Jun 2016 at 20:09hrs | Views
Zimbabwe has recorded a 50 percent increase in HIV testing for both men and women attributed to the successful roll-out of the Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme according to the just released Zimbabwe preliminary demographic and health survey. The 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey was implemented by the Zimbabwe National Statics Agency (ZIMSTAT) from July to December 2015 with a national representative sample of over 11 000 households.
The survey is a follow up to the ones that were carried out from 1988 to 2011 and provides updated estimates of basic demographic and health indicators.
ZIMSTAT Director General Mr Mutasa Dzinotyei says the improvement in the number of people voluntarily getting tested has been attributed to the willingness of men getting tested together with their partners when women undergo HIV screening during pregnancy.
Mr Dzinotyei also said maternal mortality has declined to 651 from 960 per 100 000 in 2010.
However, Director for Epidemiology and Diseases Control Dr Portia Manangazira indicated that the Ministry of Health and Child Care is worried on the increase in the number of children under the age of 16 falling pregnant, as this increases the number of women who die while giving birth as they might fail to access health facilities due to lack of information.
The survey focused on different areas among them maternal health, gender based violence and HIV and sexual reproductive health.
The preliminary report is meant to equip policy makers with the situation on ground in the health sector and the comprehensive analysis of data will be presented in a final report to be released later this year.
The survey is a follow up to the ones that were carried out from 1988 to 2011 and provides updated estimates of basic demographic and health indicators.
ZIMSTAT Director General Mr Mutasa Dzinotyei says the improvement in the number of people voluntarily getting tested has been attributed to the willingness of men getting tested together with their partners when women undergo HIV screening during pregnancy.
Mr Dzinotyei also said maternal mortality has declined to 651 from 960 per 100 000 in 2010.
However, Director for Epidemiology and Diseases Control Dr Portia Manangazira indicated that the Ministry of Health and Child Care is worried on the increase in the number of children under the age of 16 falling pregnant, as this increases the number of women who die while giving birth as they might fail to access health facilities due to lack of information.
The survey focused on different areas among them maternal health, gender based violence and HIV and sexual reproductive health.
The preliminary report is meant to equip policy makers with the situation on ground in the health sector and the comprehensive analysis of data will be presented in a final report to be released later this year.
Source - ZBC
