Abstract:

Background: In 2016, an estimated 718,500 of people living with HIV and about 19,743 AIDS related deaths has occurred in Ethiopia. The current national HIV/AIDS strategic plan [2015-2020] capitalizes on implementing targeted prevention interventions to reach those at risk and vulnerable population groups and preparing district based epidemiologic synthesis using routine data.

Methods: Know Your Epidemic (KYE) method was used to come up with know your epidemic synthesis. Primary and secondary data also used for triangulation of the synthesis in order to identify an updated picture of the HIV epidemic and its drivers of epidemic in Somali region, Ethiopia. The study was conducted in Somali region between May to August 2017.

Result: HIV epidemic scenario in Somali region is relatively low (0.75%) in prevalence according to 2017 EPHI projection. However, it is more heterogeneous among zones, ranges from 6.88% in Sitti zone to 0% in many zones in Somali region, and even more heterogeneous between districts, ranging from 18.86% in Dekasuftu to 0% in many districts. It also various among settings: rural (3.8%) highest figure nationally and Urban (3.5%) according to ANC sentinel surveillance.

Majority of the data shows increasing HIV prevalence trends in Somali region over time in both sex groups.

Somali region has responded the diseases both institutionally and program levels, which is more centralized.

Conclusions: The overall HIV prevalence in Somali region, Ethiopia is relatively low (0.75%, 2016 EPHI) but more varied significantly among zones and districts.

Keywords: Drivers of HIV epidemic, Know epidemic.

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