Date:
01 Jun 2020 to 30 Jun 2020
Men are not formally listed as a key population and/or vulnerable group that requires special attention in the South Africa National Strategic Plan for HIV, Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (2017-2022). However, the data highlights men and boys as a vulnerable group to ill-health, who need special healthcare services and attention from researchers, policymakers and practitioners in South Africa.
- TB is the leading cause of natural death among men
- Men account for 56.6% of all TB deaths recorded
- More men (17%) report having multiple sexual partners than women (5%), which puts them at greater risk of HIV infection
- HIV testing rate among men of 15 to 49 years is 45%. The rate is 59% among women in the same age-range.
Other forms of risky behavior that increase chances that men will experience ill-health are smoking (30% of men report smoking) and risky drinking (28% of men report drinking 5+ standard measures of alcohol on a single occasion).
Implications of risky behavior and men not making use of available and free health services in relation to TB and HIV means that men suffer from ill-health more and die sooner. We encourage men to prioritise their health and screen and test for HIV and TB regularly.
SCREEN AND TEST FOR TB, HIV & COVID-19 TODAY
Source of statistics South African Health Demographic Survey (SAHDS) (2016)Documents:
