Madagascar
With less than 1 percent of the population
estimated to be HIV positive, Madagascar is one
of the few low HIV-prevalence countries in sub-
Saharan Africa. Recent expansion of Madagascar’s
surveillance system has yielded more representative
data, lowering the national HIV prevalence rate from
0.5 to 0.2 percent, according to UNAIDS. The 2007
Biologic Sentinel Surveillance found a prevalence
rate of 0.83 percent among pregnant women in
Sainte-Marie and 0.35 percent in Morondava.
However, several factors, including low levels of HIV
awareness and risky behaviors, particularly among
youth, have put Madagascar in danger of an
HIV/AIDS outbreak. UNAIDS estimates that 49,000
people in Madagascar are HIV positive.
USAID is dedicated to assisting Malagasy programs working to maintain – if not reduce – the
country’s low HIV prevalence. Current USAID efforts are focused on implementing behavior
change interventions targeting vulnerable groups, expanding access to necessary prevention
products and services, and helping the government develop data to improve the
decisionmaking process.
View the USAID
HIV/AIDS Country Profile for Madagascar - September 2008 [PDF,
89KB].
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