South African National HIV Prevalence, HIV Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey (SABSSM) 2017: Combined - All provinces

Description:
In the combined data set three individual data sets were merged; parents/guardians for children to 11 years, children 12 to 14 years, youths and adults 15 years and older.

The data set has modules that contain information on biographical data, orphan status, school attendance, media, communication and norms, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and values about HIV/AIDS, sexual history, sexually transmitted infections, delivery and care details, male circumcision, HIV testing and risk perception, drug and alcohol use, health status, and violence in relationships. The datasets also contains biological markers such as HIV status, exposure to ARVs, viral load suppression and HIV drug resistance.

The data set contains 1 090 variables and 66 615 cases.
Abstract:
This is the fifth wave in a series of national cross-sectional surveys that have been undertaken every three years since 2002, by a research consortium led by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The study design and methods were based on the methods used and validated in the previous four surveys conducted by the HSRC in 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2012. The 2017 survey employed a slightly similar methodology compared to 2002, 2005 and 2008 surveys. In the first two surveys (2002 and 2005), a maximum of three people was randomly sampled in each household, based on pre-determined age categories, namely a child aged 2-14 years, a youth aged 15-24 years, and an adult aged 25 years or older. In 2008, infants aged 2 years and younger were included in the sample as a fourth possible person. In 2012, all household members were included in the survey, and the same approach was used in 2017, making it the fifth national-level repeat survey.

The main objectives of the survey were to undertake the following analyses on a household-level of a nationally representative sample of adults and children in South Africa:

To estimate the HIV prevalence at national, provincial and selected district levels among adults and children in South Africa.

To estimate the extent of exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the level of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) at national, provincial and selected district levels among adults and children in South Africa.

To review the progress in reaching UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals for total HIV epidemic control.

Furthermore, to undertake the following analyses at the national and provincial levels and for selected districts:

To assess the prevalence of self-reported TB, related knowledge and attitudes.

To assess the relationship between social and behavioural factors and HIV infection.

To determine the viral load (VL) in HIV-positive individuals and estimate the proportion of persons receiving antiretroviral therapy who are virally suppressed.

The survey targeted 15 000 VPs, of these, 12 435 (82.9%) VPs were approached. Among these VPs, 11 776 (94.7%) were valid VPs. A household response rate of 82.2% was achieved from the valid VPs. In the 9 656 VPs that agreed to participate in the survey, 39 132 individuals were eligible to be interviewed and provide a blood sample. Among the eligible individuals, 36 609 (93.6%) agreed to be interviewed. Among the 39 132 eligible individuals, 61.1% provided a blood specimen for HIV-testing; the samples were anonymously linked to the completed questionnaires.