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| Deaths Outnumber Births as AIDS Ravages Southern Africa |
| 2005-03-01 |
| The HIV/AIDS epidemic, which continues to devastate mostly the world's poorer nations, has increased the rate of mortality and slowed population growth, according to a new U.N. report released Thursday. Of the 60 highly affected countries, 40 are in sub-Saharan Africa, 12 in Latin America and the Caribbean, five in Asia, two in Europe and one in North America (the United States). In Southern Africa, described as the region with the highest prevalence of the deadly disease, life expectancy has fallen sharply: from 62 years in 1990-1995 to 48 years in 2000-2005. The average life span in that region is also projected to decrease further: to about 43 years over the next decade, before a slow recovery starts. "As a consequence, population growth in the region is expected to stall between 2005 and 2020," says the study titled "World Population Prospects: the 2004 Revision". In Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, population is projected to decrease as deaths outnumber births. But in most of the other developing nations affected by the AIDS epidemic, which began 25 years ago, population growth will continue to be positive as their moderate or high fertility more than counterbalances the rise in mortality. The gender dimension of the impact of AIDS is particularly important in sub-Saharan Africa, where women are infected with HIV at younger ages and in greater numbers than men, according to the study. In four countries -- Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe -- female life expectancy fell below male life expectancy during 2000-2005, primarily due to AIDS... These numbers may be subject to acute change, due to such factors as avian influenza. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #2 maybe she needs to get out from under the Kennedy name and really do something on the ground? Big thoughts - big credit - little done. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-01 9:46:37 PM |
| #1 Rory Kennedy was suppose to tackle this social crisis. SHe called it her Pandemic project. (Maybe she needs your help!). Andrea Jackosn |
| Posted by: Andrea Jackson 2005-03-01 9:42:51 PM |