Human immunodeficiency virus infection

Abstract

In 2008, 33.4 million people worldwide were living with HIV: 31.3 million adults and 2.1 million children under 15 years of age (Table 36.1). Worldwide, two-thirds of people living with HIV infection are in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has a prevalence rate of 52 per 1000 population and accounts for 68 percent of new infections. In 2008 in the UK, an estimated 83000 people (1.3 per 1000 population; 1.8/1000 men, 0.9/1000 women) were living with HIV infection, although over a quarter were unaware of their HIV status (Health Protection Centre for Infections: www.hpa.org.uk/hiv).