South African National HIV Prevalence, HIV Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey (SABSSM) 2012: Combined - All provinces

Description:
In the combined data set four individual data sets were combined, guardians for children to 11 years, children 12 to 14 years, youths and adults 15 years and older and individual's information from the visiting point data set.

The data set contains information on: biographical data, media, communication and norms, knowledge and perceptions of HIV/AIDS, male circumcision, sexual debut, partners and partner characteristics, condoms, vulnerability, HIV testing, alcohol and substance use, general perceptions about government, health and violence in the community.

The data set contains 917 variables and 44029 cases.

Subsequent to the dissemination of version 1 of the Combined data set the skip patterns for the Adult and Child data sets were corrected and updated in the Combined data set which is disseminated as Version 2.
Abstract:
South Africa continues to have the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the World. This study intends to understand the determinants that lead South Africans to be vulnerable and susceptible to HIV. This is the fourth in a series of household surveys conducted by Human Sciences Research council (HSRC), that allow for tracking of HIV and associated determinants over time using a slightly same methodology used in 2002 and 2008 survey, making it the fourth national-level repeat survey. The 2002 and 2005 surveys included individuals aged 2+ years living in South Africa while 2008 and 2012 survey included individuals of all ages living in South Africa, including infants less than 2 years of age. The 2008 study included only four people per household, while in 2012 all members of the households participated. The interval of three years since 2002 allows for an exploration of shifts over time against a complex of demographic and other variables, as well as allowing for investigation of the new areas. The surveys provide the nationally representative HIV incidence estimates showing changes over time.

The 2012 study key objectives were:

to determine the proportion of PLHIV who are on Antiretroviral treatment (ART) in South Africa;

to determine the prevalence and incidence of HIV infection in South Africa in relation to social and behavioural determinants;

to determine the proportion of males in South Africa who are circumcised;

to investigate the link between social values, and cultural determinants and HIV infection in South Africa;

to determine the extent to which mother-child pairs include HIV-negative mothers and HIV-positive infants;

to describe trends in HIV prevalence, HIV incidence, and risk behaviour in South Africa over the period 2002 to 2012

collect data on the health conditions of South Africans; and

contribute to the analysis of the impact of HIV/AIDS on society.

In 2012, of the 15000 selected households or visiting points, 11079 agreed to participate in the survey, 42950 individuals (all household members were included) were eligible to be interviewed, and 38431 individuals completed the interview. Of the 38431 eligible individuals, 28997 agreed to provide a blood specimen for HIV testing and were anonymously linked to the behavioural questionnaires. The household response rate was 87.2% , the individual response rate was 89.5% and the overall response rate for HIV testing was 67.5%