UNAIDS Must Recognise Over 50s as a Risk Group

Help Age International

World

August 1, 2008

Older people are sexually active and should be included in UNAIDS indicators.

Ahead of the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City next week, HelpAge International is renewing its call for UNAIDS indicators on HIV and AIDS to include people over 50.

Despite the limited data available on older people affected by HIV and AIDS, existing evidence clearly shows they are living with the virus and are at risk of infection.

Recently released data from the Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey 2007 revealed that the prevalence rate of HIV among people aged 50-54 is almost 8%. This figure is double that among 15-24 year-olds, who are a key target group for policy and programming response.

Prevalence in the 55-59 age group is at just over 4%, while for the 60-64 age group it is 2%. The primary mode of transmission among the over 50s is, as for other age groups, heterosexual sex.
 
Missing from core indicators

UNAIDS, which leads the global response to the pandemic, currently uses 25 core indicators to monitor progress in tackling HIV and AIDS. However, none of these indicators monitor the impact on or prevalence among those over 50.
This exclusion is leading to a critical lack of awareness of the affects on older people, and to their neglect in national and international responses. As a result, many are unable to access vital information, treatment and support.

Older people are sexually active

Rachel Albone, HelpAge International HIV and AIDS Policy Adviser, says:
“It’s startling that in the face of clear evidence of older people living with HIV and AIDS, UNAIDS is still does not recognise them as a group at risk of infection.

Indicators used to measure number of sexual partners and condom use focus solely on the 15-49 age group, perpetuating the false assumption that people over 50 no longer have sexual relationships. This is simply not the case.
“Until all age groups are included in the global response, the international goal of universal access to prevention, treatment and care by 2010 will not be achieved.”

Earlier this year, the UNAIDS regional office for southern and eastern Africa asked HelpAge International to review all country reports from the region that had been submitted to the UN. The analysis found very little evidence of the inclusion of older people, again confirming their absence from HIV and AIDS interventions.

Older carers

In addition to being a risk group, older people, mainly older women, also make a crucial contribution to the HIV and AIDS response in their role as carers for many of the world’s 15 million children orphaned by the pandemic.

None of the 25 core indicators address the issue of who is providing care to people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS, nor do they measure the support these carers receive. Without this information, appropriate assistance to older people and those in their care cannot be delivered. 

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