South African HIV/AIDS, Behavioural Risks, Sero-status, and Mass Media Impact Survey (SABSSM) 2002: Child data - All provinces

Description:
The child data of the SABSSM 2002 study include information from the children 12-14 years on various topics topics such as biographical information, knowledge and communication about HIV and AIDS, the child's home environment, care and protection, sexual experience and behaviour, circumcision, hospitalisation history and health status.

The data set contains 420 variables and 998 cases.
Abstract:
Background: This is the first in a series of national HIV household surveys conducted in South Africa. The survey was commissioned by the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The key aims were to determine the HIV prevalence in the general population, identify risk factors that increase vulnerability of South Africans to HIV infections, to identify the contexts within which sexual behaviour occurs and the obstacles to risk reduction and to determine the level of exposure of all sectors of society to current prevention. The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund requested the HSRC to assess the impact of current HIV and AIDS education and awareness programmes designed to slow down the epidemic, including infection rates, stigma, care and support for affected individuals and families.

Methodology: Sampling methods: multi-stage cluster stratified sample stratified by province, settlement geography (geotype) and predominant race group in each area. A systematic sample of 15 households was drawn from each of 1 000 census enumeration areas (EAs). In each household, one person was randomly selected in each of four mutually exclusive age groups (2-11 years; 12-14 years; 15-24 years; 25+ years). Field workers administered questionnaires to selected respondents and also collected oral fluid specimens for HIV testing.

Results: This study sampled a cross-section of 9 963 South Africans aged two years and older. HIV is a generalised epidemic in South Africa that extends to all age groups, geographic areas and race groups.

It showed 11.4 % were HIV positive, 15.6 per cent of them aged between 15 and 49. Women (12.8% HIV positive) were more at risk of infection than men (9.5% HIV positive). Urban informal settlements have the highest incidence of HIV infection (21.3%). Free State showed the highest prevalence (14.9%) with Eastern Cape having the lowest (6.6%). Higher rates of infection (5.6%) are also found in children aged 2-14 and Africans (10.2%). Awareness of HIV status was low. Only 18.9% reported that they were previously tested. Fewer women (3.9%) reported more than one sexual partner as compared to men (13.5%). Condom use at last sex was low among both women (24.7%) and men (30.3%).

Knowledge of HIV and AIDS is generally high, with sexual behaviour changes taking root in encouragingly low numbers of sexual partners and high levels of abstinence among the youth. There is still great uncertainty of the relationship between HIV and AIDS and popular myths. South Africans from all walks of life are at risk. In particular, wealthy Africans have the same levels of risk as poorer Africans - whereas in other race groups, poorer people are more vulnerable to infection.

Conclusions: The study recommended the expansion of voluntary counseling and testing. Prevention programmes ought to focus on reduction on multiple partners and increased condom use. It further recommended, inter alia, that HIV/AIDS prevention programmes be intensified for people living in informal settlements, campaigns be implemented using mass media to address myths and misconceptions and that information needs in rural communities and poorer households due to lack of access to mass media channels, should be attended to.

数据集描述：
SABSSM 2002研究的儿童子数据集涵盖了12至14岁儿童的多维度信息，具体包括个人生平资料、艾滋病（HIV/AIDS）知识与交流情况、儿童家庭环境、照护与保护状况、性经历与性行为、包皮环切情况、住院史与健康状态。
该数据集共包含420个变量与998条有效样本。

摘要：
研究背景：本研究为南非系列全国艾滋病家庭调查的首项研究，由纳尔逊·曼德拉儿童基金（Nelson Mandela Children's Fund）与纳尔逊·曼德拉基金会（Nelson Mandela Foundation）委托开展。核心研究目标包括：测算普通人群的艾滋病病毒（HIV）现患率，识别南非人群感染HIV的易感风险因素，明确性行为发生的场景与风险降低的阻碍因素，以及评估社会各群体对当前艾滋病预防措施的接触程度。纳尔逊·曼德拉儿童基金委托人类科学研究委员会（HSRC）评估当前旨在延缓艾滋病疫情蔓延的艾滋病教育与认知宣传项目的效果，包括感染率、社会污名化状况以及对感染者及受影响家庭的照护与支持情况。

研究方法：抽样采用多阶段整群分层抽样方案，分层维度涵盖省份、居住地理环境（地理类型）以及各区域的主要种族群体。研究人员从1000个普查枚举区（census enumeration areas, EAs）中各系统抽取15户家庭。在每户家庭中，从四个互斥年龄组（2-11岁、12-14岁、15-24岁及25岁及以上）中各随机选取1名受访者。外勤人员向选定的受访者发放问卷，并采集口腔液样本用于HIV检测。

研究结果：本研究共抽样纳入9963名2岁及以上的南非人群作为横断面样本。艾滋病病毒在南非已形成广泛流行态势，波及所有年龄组、地理区域与种族群体。
调查显示，11.4%的受访者HIV检测呈阳性，其中15.6%的感染者年龄介于15至49岁之间。女性HIV阳性率为12.8%，高于男性的9.5%，感染风险更高。城市非正式定居点的HIV发病率最高，达21.3%。自由邦省（Free State）的HIV现患率最高，为14.9%，东开普省（Eastern Cape）最低，为6.6%。2至14岁儿童的感染率也较高，达5.6%；非洲裔人群感染率为10.2%。受访者对自身HIV感染状况的认知水平较低，仅18.9%的受访者表示此前曾接受过HIV检测。与男性（13.5%）相比，报告拥有多名性伴侣的女性比例更低，仅为3.9%。末次性行为时的安全套使用率同样偏低，女性为24.7%，男性为30.3%。
公众对艾滋病的认知整体处于较高水平，青年群体的性行为模式已出现积极转变：性伴侣数量控制在较低水平且禁欲比例较高。但公众对艾滋病与HIV的关联仍存在大量认知误区与普遍误解。南非社会各阶层均面临感染风险，值得关注的是，富裕非洲裔人群的感染风险与贫困非洲裔人群持平；而在其他种族群体中，贫困人群的感染风险更高。

研究结论：本研究建议扩大自愿咨询与检测服务的覆盖范围。艾滋病预防项目应聚焦于减少多性伴行为并提升安全套使用率。此外，研究还特别提出：需针对非正式定居点居民强化艾滋病预防工作；应利用大众媒体开展宣传活动以纠正公众对艾滋病的错误认知；同时需关注农村社区与贫困家庭因难以接触大众媒体而产生的信息获取需求。