HIV study: Whites, Indians wary

2008-09-18 14:31

Verashni Pillay

Pretoria - The country's largest study testing South Africans' attitudes to HIV and Aids has run into resistance from Indian and white people, researchers said.

But Dr Victoria Pillay-van Wyk, study director at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), said the study was forging ahead, and approaching the halfway mark in its testing of national attitudes.

The South African National HIV, Behaviour and Health Survey will reach about 28 000 people in 15 000 randomly selected households from all parts of the country, over a period of about five to six months. The study was launched in May.

Reluctance

Researchers have been approaching people in selected areas to test for the virus and answer an anonymous survey.

But while the blood tests and survey are kept separate and results are completely anonymous, there has been reluctance from the more affluent sectors of the population.

"We have received a very good response from households where health professionals and the police reside," said Pillay-van Wyk. "[But] there are some areas where the people are not keen to participate in the survey and these, more often than not, tend to be areas where Indians or whites reside."

She emphasised the importance of participation from all sections of the population.

"We appeal to our white and Indian South Africans to participate in the survey by completing the questionnaire and providing us with a few drops of blood, as their input as South Africans is extremely valuable," she told News24.

Other South Africans have responded warmly. "Our field workers have reported that in most communities they have enjoyed warm welcome from the people," said Pillay-van Wyk. "Some families invited our fieldworkers to join them for supper."

The study, in its third year, tests anonymous participants for HIV and asks those aged 12 and older questions about their health and sexual behaviour.

Key instrument

"This survey is a key instrument in understanding the reach of HIV in our country," says Dr Olive Shisana, CEO of the HSRC. "If we cannot reliably ascertain the extent of the disease in the country, we cannot plan accordingly."

Supported by the likes Hlubi Mboya, who plays HIV-positive Nandipha in Isidingo, and Olympic swimmer Natalie du Toit, the survey will provide estimates on HIV infection rates in South Africa.

Other information, available by the end of the year and next year, will describe trends in HIV prevalence and risk behaviour in South Africa over the period from 2002 to 2008, as well as social and behavioural factors around HIV infection.

South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV and/or Aids in the world, and the largest number of people infected each year.

- News24