AIDS affects growing number of South African miners

A survey shows that 18% of South African miners are infected with HIV-AIDS.

The survey was conducted among workers at 26 South African mining and manufacturing companies, and 18 other companies based either in Botswana or Zambia. Of the 44,000 workers tested, 65%, or 28,500, work in South Africa.

After miners, metalworkers in South Africa had the highest incidents of HIV-AIDS, at 17%.

The survey suggests South African male workers are more likely to have HIV than their female counterparts (16% versus 10%). (In 2001, a national survey found that roughly 25% of pregnant women had HIV.)

The study shows that 23% of contract workers were infected, followed by 18% of unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Skilled labourers reported an HIV infection rate of 10%, whereas 4.5% of management was infected.

The average infection rate across countries and sectors was nearly 17%. In several of the companies, more than one in four workers was HIV-positive.

The survey results were published in the February 2004 edition of the South African Medical Journal and made available to companies. Personal information was kept confidential.

Testing was done by South Africa-based Aids Management & Support.