The New Age reports that according to a 2016 survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council on the health of educators in public schools in SA, there has been an increase in the number of HIV infections among teachers in SA from 12.7% in 2004 to 15.3% in 2015.  

HIV prevalence was found to be highest in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape and lowest in the Western Cape.  “The analysis shows that about 3,000 new HIV infections occurred among teachers in 2015.  Female teachers had a higher incidence than males – a finding similar to that observed among adults aged 25 years and older in the general population in 2012.  HIV incidence was also higher in younger teachers, those who were not married and those living in rural areas,” the report indicated.  The study also showed an increase in non-communicable diseases.  Alcohol abuse was found to be most likely a high risk among teachers who were low income earners.

• Read this report by Lillian Selapisa in full at The New Age
• See too, Teachers burdened by stress and HIV, on page 10 of Sowetan of 15 June 2017

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page