Somalia
Somalis stand against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Somaliland on World AIDS Day. Photo credit: Medair
Only 0.9 percent of Somalia’s 10.5 million citizens are estimated to be HIV-positive, which is considered to be extremely low compared to neighboring countries, such as Kenya, Ugandan, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. High-risk behavior, such as prostitution and casual sex, is rare in Somalia, which is predominantly Muslim. However, factors such as drought and war have resulted in the displacement of people to regions where HIV prevalence remains high. HIV stigma is also very high in Somalia, preventing those who are infected from seeking medical care.
