JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Women are more likely than men to be infected with AIDS virus, a survey released in South Africa said Thursday.
The survey of HIV-AIDS infection and sexual behavior was conducted by a US-based university and South Africa's Wits University.
With a total population of about 47 million, South Africa has the largest number of people - about 6 million - infected with HIV/AIDS virus in the world.
The survey, to be published in the September 23 edition of the journal "AIDS," was led by researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand.
The survey included the extent to which both males and females engaged in risky behavior, including multiple partners and inconsistent condom use, which contributed to the high infection rates.
The survey, "Young people's sexual health in South Africa HIV prevalence and sexual behaviors from a national representative household survey," examined the prevalence of HIV infection, risk factors for HIV infection and the effect of prevention programs.
The survey was conducted from March to August 2003 and sampled young people between the ages of 15 to 24.
One eligible youth in each household was randomly selected and 11,904 (68 percent) completed the interview.
Questions covered socio-demographic information, sexual risk behaviors, attitudes and norms round HIV/AIDS and awareness and exposure to "love life."
HIV testing was conducted but it was anonymous so participants were told that they would not receive their results. The findings would be used for HIV prevention programs. Enditem
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