The topic of the article is not the most pleasant, but "forewarned is forearmed", the problem exists and just turning a blind eye to it is an unforgivable carelessness. Travelers often risk their health, fortunately, with fewer consequences, but you shouldn't put yourself in danger anyway.
South Africa
Although the country is the most developed on the African continent, the number of HIV-infected here is a record 5.6 million. This is despite the fact that there are 34 million patients in the world, and the population of South Africa is about 53 million, that is, more than 15% live with the virus.
What you need to know: Most people living with HIV are blacks from disadvantaged suburbs. It is this group that is in the worst social conditions with all the ensuing consequences: drug addiction, promiscuous sex, unsanitary conditions. Most of the patients were recorded in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal (capital - Durban), Mpumalanga (Nelspreid), Freestate (Blomfontien), Northwest (Mafikeng) and Gauteng (Johannesburg).
Nigeria
Here, there are 3.3 million carriers of HIV infection, although this is less than 5% of the population: Nigeria recently ousted Russia, taking 7th place in the world - 173.5 million people. In large cities, the disease spreads due to asocial behavior, and in rural areas due to constant labor migration and "free" customs and traditions.
What you need to know: Nigeria is not the most hospitable country and the Nigerians themselves are well aware of this. Therefore, the receiving party will surely take care of safety and warn against dangerous contacts.
Kenya
The country accounts for 1.6 million infected, just over 6% of the population. At the same time, women are more likely to suffer from the disease - about 8% of Kenyans are infected. As in many African countries, the status of women, and hence the level of her safety and education, is still very low.
What you need to know: A safari in a national park or a beach and hotel vacation in Mombasa are completely safe activities, unless, of course, on purpose, you are not looking for illegal entertainment.
Tanzania
It is quite a tourist-friendly country with a bunch of interesting places, which is also dangerous in terms of HIV infection, although not like many other states in Africa. According to the latest research, the incidence of HIV / AIDS in Tanzania is 5.1%. There are fewer infected men, but the gap is not as significant as, for example, in Kenya.
What you need to know: Tanzania is a fairly safe country by African standards, so if you follow the obvious rules, the threat of infection is minimal. A high, over 10, percentage of infected in the Njobe region and the capital Dar es Salaam. Fortunately, both of them are far from the tourist routes, unlike Kilimanjaro or the island of Zanzibar.
Mozambique
The country is deprived not only of sights, but also of basic infrastructure from hospitals to roads and water pipes. In addition, many of the consequences of the civil war are still not resolved. Of course, an African country in this state could not avoid an epidemic: according to various estimates, from 1.6 to 5.7 people were infected - conditions simply do not allow an accurate study. Due to the wide spread of the immunodeficiency virus, foci of tuberculosis, malaria and cholera often break out.
Uganda
A country with good potential for classic safari tourism, which it has been actively developing lately. Plus, Uganda has been and remains one of the most progressive countries in terms of HIV prevention and diagnosis in Africa. The first specialized clinic was opened here, and disease testing centers operate throughout the country.
What you need to know: risk groups are the same as everywhere else: drug addicts, ex-prisoners - it will not be difficult for a sane tourist not to intersect with them.
Zambia and Zimbabwe
These countries are similar in many ways, even the main attraction, they have one for two: it is located right on the border - tourists can come to it from both sides. In terms of living standards and the incidence of AIDS, the countries are also not far from each other - in Zambia there are almost a million infected, in Zimbabwe - 1.2. This is the average for southern Africa - from 5% to 15% of the population.
What you need to know: There are problems with the provision of medicines, in addition, in rural areas, many self-medicate and practice useless rituals. Therefore, the disease, typical for cities, has reached remote areas.
India
There are 2.4 million HIV-infected here, although against the background of 1.2 billion of the population, this does not look so frightening - less than 1%. The main risk group is sex workers. 55% of HIV positive Indians live in four southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Goa, the incidence rate is far from the highest for 0.6% of men and 0.4% of women.
What you need to know: Fortunately, HIV infection, unlike many other tropical diseases, depends indirectly on unsanitary conditions. Outright dirt and tightness is a normal condition in India. The main thing, as, by the way, in any country, is to try not to appear in public places if there are wounds and cuts on the body, not to wear open shoes in the city, and we are not even talking about dubious entertainment.
Ukraine
Eastern Europe, unfortunately, over the past decades has shown a positive trend in the incidence of HIV / AIDS, and Ukraine is consistently at the top of this sad list. Today, a little more than 1% of people in the country are HIV-infected.
What you need to know: Several years ago, unprotected sex became a way of spreading the disease, overtaking injections with dirty syringes. Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odessa and Nikolaev regions are unfavorable. There, per 100 thousand inhabitants, there are 600-700 infected. Kiev, where tourists most often come, has an average level, and the lowest rate in the country is in Transcarpathia.
USA
America is in 9th place in the world in terms of the number of carriers of HIV infection - 1.2 million people. Such a high indicator in one of the most prosperous countries is due to the high level of drug addiction, unresolved social contradictions, and active migration. And the violent, loose 60s were not in vain for the health of the nation. Of course, the disease concentrates on specific groups of people who, in most cases, live not so much separately from everyone else, but localized, in "bad" areas.
What you need to know: Here are ten cities with the highest percentage of HIV-positive patients (in descending order): Miami, Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, New York, Washington, Columbia, Memphis, Orlando, New Orleans, Baltimore.
Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com
