Accra, July 2, GNA - The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) on Wednesday called for the promotion of behavioural change among Ghanaians for the control of the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Addressing the media in Accra, Dr Nii Akwei Addo, Manager of the NACP said though awareness about HIV/AIDS has remained very high for the past three years, the corresponding behavioural change that would help reduce or check the spread has not been forthcoming.

This has brought about increased figures in the number of cases over the years, he said, adding that there is need to move from awareness creation to convincing people in their homes and communities about the need to change their lifestyles.

Dr. Addo was presenting the results of a sentinel survey on HIV prevalence carried out between October 2002 to January 2003 with a general objective of collecting information for planning, monitoring and care activities.

The survey, which was funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department for International Development DFID was the 11th in the country, since 1990 and carried in 25 selected locations in the 10 regions of Ghana where 11,300 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics for the fist time were tested.

Dr Addo said the results indicated that there is a steady rise in the prevalence rate of HIV in the past two years, adding, "there has been an almost 50 per cent increase in HIV prevalence "in a matter of two years from 2000 to 2002.

In 10 of the selected sites, percentage of HIV prevalence rates in 2002 were 50 per cent higher than the 2000 rates, while there was more than a 100 per cent increase in five sites between 2000 and 2002.

Koforidua recorded the highest rates with 8.5 per cent, followed by Agomanya with 7.0 per cent. Tema followed with 6.6 per cent, Eikwe in the Western Region recorded 6.0, Obuasi, 6.0 while Navrongo followed with 5.1.

"These figures and others recorded during the survey make the HIV/AIDS situation very alarming.

" The Eastern and Western Regions recorded the highest in prevalence rates, though Ashanti, Greater Accra, Western and Upper East have rates that are higher than five per cent which are also alarming," Dr Addo said.

The survey, he said, also brought to the fore, the presence of syphilis in the population from zero per cent in several sites to 3.2 in Agomanya, among the 35 to 39 year age group.

This needs to be corrected as well because the disease though curable, could be very dangerous as it causes abortions, deaths, pre-mature births and abnormalities in babies.