Mauritius

HIV/AIDS epidemiological summary

In 1998, 8% of sex workers tested were HIV-positive. However, there was no evidence of HIV infection among antenatal clinic attendees tested.

One study reported that, between 1988 and 1991, 1% of STI clinic patients tested HIV-positive but found no evidence of HIV infection among IV drug users.

Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS, end 1999	Adults and children	Adults (15-49)	Adult rate (%)	Women (15-49)	Children (0-14)
Source: UNAIDS/WHO, June 2000	-	500	0.08	-	-
Demographic impact of HIV/AIDS		Year	Estimate	Source
Children who lost their mother or both parents due to HIV/AIDS at age 14 or younger since the beginning of the epidemic		-	-	-
Estimated AIDS deaths		-	-	-
Behavioural indicators		Year	Age group	Male	Female
Reported condom use during most recent intercourse with a non-regular partner (%)		-	-	-	-
Reported non-regular sexual partnership over a 12-month period (%)		-	-	-	-
Measured HIV prevalence (%)		Year	Median	Min.	Max.
Women in antenatal care clinics - major urban areas (%)		1998	0.01	0.01	0.01

Figure

Economic impact of HIV/AIDS

Summary of the economic impact of HIV/AIDS

No empirical data on the economic impact of AIDS in Mauritius were found. However, a modelling exercise carried out for the World Bank calculated the annual costs of scaling-up AIDS programmes to meet the current need to be between US $4 million and US$ 5 million. This represents a per capita cost of around US$ 4 and approximately 0.1% of GDP. In education, a model developed by UNAIDS and UNICEF in 2000 shows that increasing mortality rates have led to discontinuity, with many pupils losing or having a change in their teachers. The potential impact on other sectors, including agriculture, households and firms, shown in other African nations to lead to increased costs and expenditure, labour losses, reductions in savings and shifting productivity patterns, needs to be carefully monitored in future studies to ensure an appropriate policy response.

Macroeconomic impact

Not available

Economic impact of HIV/AIDS on households

Not available

Economic impact of HIV/AIDS on agriculture

Not available

Economic impact of HIV/AIDS on firms

Not available

Economic impact of HIV/AIDS on education

Supply: Not available
Demand: Not available

Economic impact on the health sector

Supply: Not available

Demand: Not available

Resource gap: The annual cost of scaling-up HIV/AIDS programmes is estimated to be US$ 4 million - US$ 5 million (2).

Management and implementation of the national response to HIV/AIDS

Policy formulation

Existence of national HIV/AIDS policy (either a written document or part of one)

Yes	No
X

Comments/Key elements: 1) Guidelines for Universal Precautions and Infection Control. 2) Guideline on STI treatment (1999). 3) Management Guideline for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (2000). 4) Code of ethics on Care/Counselling of HIV-positive persons (2000).

Source: National AIDS Coordinator

Date: 29 June 2000

Existence of HIV/AIDS policy in the following sectors:

Sector	Yes	No
Agriculture		X
Education	X
Health	X
Military		X
Workplace	X
Sports	X
Others

Comments/Key elements:
Source: National AIDS Coordinator
Date: 29 June 2000

Existence of HIV/AIDS-specific legislation against discrimination on the grounds of HIV

Yes	No
	X

Comments/Key elements: National Children’s Council Act and the National Women’s Council Act provide general protection to these vulnerable groups.

Protection of Human Rights Act was enacted in December 1998 and proclaimed in January 1999.

Source: National AIDS Coordinator

Date: 29 June 2000

Organizational structure

Existence of high-level structure in support of the national response

(e.g. National AIDS Committee/Commission, Inter-Ministerial Committee, Presidential-level bodies)

Yes	No
X

Comments/Key elements: A National AIDS Committee was established in the Ministry of Health as a multisectoral body in 1987. It provides the policy guideline to the National Programme.

Source: National AIDS Coordinator

Date: 29 June 2000

Planning and programming

Existence of national strategic plan on HIV/AIDS

Yes	No
X

Comments/Key elements: National Strategic Plan 2001-2005 is currently under preparation.
Source: National AIDS Coordinator
Date: 29 June 2000

National strategic plan on HIV/AIDS includes clearly identified priorities

Yes	No
X

Comments/Key elements:

Suggested priority areas are as follows:

- Educational activities focusing on general population and specific vulnerable groups;
- Care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS;
- Training of peer educators, medical personnel and community workers;
- Operational research.

Source: National AIDS Coordinator

Date: 29 June 2000

Existence of budget for implementation of the national strategic plan

Yes	No
X

Comments/Key elements: Implementation of the National AIDS Control Programme depends on external funds.

Source: National AIDS Coordinator

Date: 29 June 2000

General demographic and socioeconomic indicators

Demographic indicators	Year	Estimate	Source
Total population (thousands)	1999	1150	UNPOP
Population aged 15-49 (thousands)	1999	661	UNPOP
Annual population growth (%)	1990-1998	1.0	UNPOP
% of population urbanized	1998	40	UNPOP
Average annual growth rate of urban population (%)	1990-1998	1.0	UNPOP
Economic Indicators	Year	Estimate	Source
GNP per capita (US$)	1997	3870	World Bank
GNP per capita average annual growth rate (%)	1996-1997	3.9	World Bank
Human Development Index rank (HDI)	2000	71	UNDP
% population economically active	-	-	-
Unemployment rate	1995	9.8	ILO
Education Indicators	Year	Estimate	Source
Total adult literacy rate	1995	83	UNESCO
Adult male literacy rate	1995	87	UNESCO
Adult female literacy rate	1995	79	UNESCO
Male secondary school enrolment ratio	1996	63.3	UNESCO
Female secondary school enrolment ratio	1996	65.7	UNESCO
Health Indicators	Year	Estimate	Source
Crude birth rate (births per 1000 pop.)	1999	16	UNPOP
Crude death rate (deaths per 1000 pop.)	1999	6	UNPOP
Maternal mortality rate (per 100 000 live births)	1990	120	WHO
Life expectancy at birth	1998	72	UNPOP
Total fertility rate	1998	1.9	UNPOP
Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births)	1999	15	UNICEF/UNPOP
Contraceptive prevalence rate (%)	1990-1999	75	UNICEF/UNPOP
% of births attended by trained health personnel	1990-1999	97	UNICEF
% of one-year-old children fully immunized-DPT	1995-1998	90	UNICEF

References

(1) UNICEF. The Progress of Nations 2000. Background paper. New York, UNICEF, 2000.

(2) World Bank and UNAIDS. Costs of Scaling HIV Programmes to a National Level for Sub-Saharan Africa. Draft report, April 2000.