Spouse separation, key driver of HIV in Beitbridge
Spouses living away from each other are the major driver of the spread of HIV in Beitbridge District, Beitbridge District AIDS Coordinator Edward Mlauzi has said.
He said that most people migrate to Beitbridge and SA leaving their families behind and this has led to people having multiple sexual partners and in turn increasing the prevalence of HIV in the district.
Mlauzi was speaking during a 4-day IOM Zimbabwe Media Training Workshop on SRHR-HIV and ethical reporting held at a local lodge from September 9 to 12 2026.
Beitbridge has an HIV prevalence of 14,5% and this is high compared to the national prevalence of 9.78%. Other districts with high prevalence are Bubi, Bulima and Tsholotsho.
Beitbridge has a population of 152 574 people and 18 659 are living with HIV. The incident rate which means new infections is 0.2%, and ART coverage is 98.4 percent with 18 127 of 18 659 on treatment.
“You will realise that most people migrate to Beitbridge and SA leaving their families behind. This has led to multiple sexual partners and in turn increasing the prevalence of HIV in the district,” he said.
Other drivers include multiple concurrent partners, age mixing, inconsistent condom use and low risk perception. The district has 27 health facilities.
Dr Lenos Samhere who is the District Medical Officer said male involvement remains low in the district. Partner attendance at antenatal care is low and men rarely initiate family planning and HIV testing.
“Uptake of PEP and PrEP is still low in the district,” he said.
He said possible solutions here include workplace outreach, male champions, couple counselling and border mobile clinics. *_-Masvingo Mirror_*
