Burundi
Country profile
The people
Total population: 7.3 million
Major languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili
Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs
Literacy rate: 51.6%
Life expectancy at birth: male - 42 years; female - 47 years
The country
Capital: Bujumbura
Area: 27,816 sq km (10,740 sq miles)
Main exports: coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
GNI per capita: US$660 compared to $33,630 in the UK (World Bank, 2005)
HIV/AIDS situation
>> Adults and children living with HIV: 150,000
>> Women living with HIV: 79,000
>> AIDS-related deaths: 13,000
>> Number of orphans (0-17 years) due to AIDS: 120,000
>> Estimated HIV prevalence rate: 3.3%
>> HIV-infected Burundians on antiretrovirals: 14%
Burundi has been beset by conflict for most of its history since its independence in 1962. This was heightened by the genocide of 1972 and the civil war that started in 1993 with the killing of the first democratically elected President. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and one of the largest groups of internally displaced people and refugees in the region.
According to Human Rights Watch, when Burundians fled towards Tanzania, they expected to find safety and protection in the camps; but they escaped one type of violence in Burundi and faced other forms of violence in refugee camps in Tanzania - particularly the young girls and women. As a result, HIV and AIDS is spreading through the camps and affects the lives of many refugees.
In Burundi, high-level political commitment to tackling the HIV and AIDS crisis was present at a very early stage and made it possible to set up structures that have ensured an effective response to HIV. In 2002, Burundi appointed a minister responsible for AIDS control and a national AIDS control council. There are other organisations and associations involving the general public in HIV prevention for young people and women amongst others.
Just over 3% of adults were living with HIV in 2005 and trends vary considerably in different parts of the country. HIV prevalence among young (15-24 year old) pregnant women declined from 13% to 9% in 2000-2004 at antenatal clinics in Bujumbura and other urban areas (Ministere de la Sante Publique Burundi, 2005). However, the latest data has shown a sharp rise in HIV infections among all antenatal clinic attendees in Bujumbura (from 12.6% in 2004 to 18% in 2005), with infection levels among young antenatal clinic attendees almost doubling from 8.6% in 2004 to 15.5% in 2005. In 2004-2005, prevalence in pregnant women also rose in rural areas (Ministere de la Sante Publique Burundi, 2005).
Source: UNAIDS