New Findings add to Growing Evidence that Global Efforts are Helping to Control the HIV Epidemic 

Today, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), CDC’s Division of Global HIV & TB (DGHT), and ICAP at Columbia University released new findings from the Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey (SHIMS2) at the 9th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science. The results show remarkable national progress in Swaziland, a country with the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world as of 2015, and provide clear evidence that global efforts are helping control the HIV epidemic.

The new results reveal that between 2011 and 2016:

• The rate of new HIV infections in Swaziland were cut nearly in half, and
• National rates of HIV viral load suppression doubled

This is a dramatic transformation for a country where, just a few years ago, HIV was destabilizing families, communities, and the country’s economy.     

SHIMS2 is a Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) survey. PHIAs are complex, national household surveys that directly measure progress toward global HIV targets. They also shine a light on the specific populations and geographic areas that require urgent attention and services. The Swaziland findings add to PHIA survey results from other PEPFAR-supported countries – Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – which were released in December 2016 and also indicate tremendous progress toward controlling the epidemic.

Working side-by-side with Ministries of Health, other U.S. government agencies, and ICAP at Columbia University, DGHT experts are lending expertise in epidemiology, laboratory science, and program services to help partners design, implement, and evaluate PHIA surveys. CDC’s role in implementing PHIAs are part of our commitment to a data-driven approach aimed at saving lives, maximizing U.S. investments and building countries’ sustainability. As a result of these efforts, we are contributing to the long-term stability of other nations, which makes the world a safer place for all of us.

Downloadable Resources

Below please find a press release, along with links to additional information on PHIA surveys.

• CDC Press Release | an overview of the key findings of the Swaziland study as well as the global impact of PHIA surveys
• Key Findings | a full version of the Swaziland abstract and summaries of PHIA data from Swaziland, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
• Dear Colleague Letter | that calls attention to the impact of the PHIA results
• Backgrounders | an overview fact sheet of Population-based HIV Impact Assessments (PHIA) and an FAQ about these surveys
• Graphics | an infographic and moving graphic highlighting the latest results, as well as social media cards to share with your networks