HIV infections ‘highest among married couples’

Married couples and those in stable relationships account for the highest percentage of new HIV/Aids infections in Kenya.

Data from the National Aids Control Council shows that of the more than 90,000 new annual infections, these two types of unions account for 44 per cent, while short-term liaisons and commercial sex workers contribute about 20 and 14 per cent, respectively.

Gay men contribute 15 per cent of new annual infections while mistakes at health facilities and injections by drug abusers each account for four per cent.

However, said Aids council South Rift coordinator Hillary Ngetich Chepsiror, progress has been made in the fight against HIV/Aids, lowering the prevalence rate from 6.2 to 5.7 per cent.

Mr Chepsiror was speaking at the end term review of the fourth Kenya National Aids Strategic Plan whose implementation ends next year.

He said more should be done to educate married couples against “mpango wa kando”, where married people have other sexual partners.

“It is no secret that new infections come from within marriages. We need to put more emphasis on this, but we will not let down our guard on the other risk areas,” he said.

The South Rift region comprises seven counties — Samburu, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Bomet, Kericho and Kajiado.

Statistics paint a bleak picture of how the disease has ravaged families. In Kericho County, nearly 17,000 people, about 2,000 of them children, are living with the virus.

In neighbouring Bomet, an estimated 18,737 are living with the virus, with 13 per cent being children under 15.

New infections among adults annually are 1,100 while those among children are 153.

The report further indicates that 600 adults and 150 children die each year from Aids.