Drivers of the epidemic

1. Promiscuous sexual behaviour
2. Intergerational sex
3. Concurrent sexual partners
4. Presence of other sexually transmitted infections such as herpes simplex x 2 virus.
5. Lack of knowledge of HIV transmission

Contextual factors shaping the epidemic in the country

1. Poverty and transactional sex with increasing numbers of commercial sex workers
2. Men's irresponsible sexual behaviour due to cultural patterns of virility
3. Social, economic and political gender inequalities including violence against women
4. Substance abuse such as alcohol consumption
5. Local cultural practices e.g. widow cleansing
6. Mobility in all its forms which leads to separation of spouses and increased establishment of temporary sexual relationships
7. Lack of male circumcision