Editorial: HIV and Sexual Behavior Among Young People: The South African Paradox

South Africa is one of the countries hardest hit by the HIV, and it is estimated that there are more people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa than in any other country in the world. We have documented high levels of HIV infection in young people in South Africa: young South African women are infected at 2 to 3 times the rate of young men and by the time a woman reaches age 21, she has a 1 in 3 chance of being HIV infected. Despite declines observed in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa including Uganda and more recently in Kenya and Zimbabwe, South Africa has failed to see a significant decline in the HIV epidemic nationally. However, it should be noted that there are some indications from the 2006 Antenatal Clinic (ANC) survey that HIV prevalence is at least stabilizing and may be declining in young women aged 15 to 24 years.