AIDS - THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH!

CAREC and UNAIDS published a report in February 2001, which concludes that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago is rising. Between 1983 and 1999, a total of 8,250 HIV/AIDS cases were reported to CAREC. Of these, one seventh or 1,155 cases were detected in 1999 alone (National Surveillance Unit/Trinidad Public Health Laboratory).

The under-reporting is estimated at 30%. Based on results of HIV - prevalence surveys among pregnant women, it is estimated that at 2.5% of the sexually active population (15-49 years old) or approximately 17,500 adults are living with HIV/AIDS in the country.The comparison between reported AIDS deaths and registered AIDS deaths at the Central Statistical Office (CSO) has shown that every day two people die of AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago. AIDS has become the leading cause of death in this country.

The epidemic is no longer confined to "particularly vulnerable groups" but has penetrated the general population. In the early years of the epidemic, the predominant mode of transmission was male-to-male, and the majority cases were males. In 1999, however, 45% of new cases were in females and 7% in children. Over 50% of new infections are occurring in young people aged 15-24 years. Seventy percent (70%) of AIDS cases were in the age group 15-44 years.

A 1994 CAREC/UWI study predicted for the year 2000, a typical Caribbean country could lose between 1.2% and 3.2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to AIDS. A second study projected that in the year 2005, Trinidad and Tobago will probably experience an AIDS-related decline of the GDP by 4.2%, of the national savings by 10.3% and of private investments by 15.6%. (Source: CAREC).