The African continent has the highest levels of HIV infection in the world, with nearly two thirds of its people directly or indirectly affected by the pandemic. In addition to reducing life expectancy, and shrinking the overall work force, AIDS kills prime-aged adults, many of who are skilled and at the peak of their economic productivity. Consequently, AIDS is among the main hindrances in the development of African countries.

Although Africa is a continent with a high HIV prevalence, the available resources are still far below the needs of the regional response. AIDS-related death rates are rising, with mortality among females between the ages of 20 - 39 more than tripling between 1997 and 2004. Over the same period, deaths due to AIDS-related conditions, such as tuberculosis, in the age group of 25 - 29 years also increased - by six folds among females and triple among males. These figures not only highlight the increase of the mortality rates in Africa, but also indicate that HIV has a striking gender disparity in the continent - In addition to the age-specific focus of the disease, statistics indicate that young women of 15-24 age groups have consistently been victims of new HIV infections compared to men.

A number of factors in Africa contribute to the vulnerability of the population to HIV infection. The decline in the standards of living, growing deprivation, poverty, unemployment and gender inequality, social unrest with displaced population, stigma and discrimination, lack of education, and weak preventive behaviour are identified as being among the driving causes. Moreover, factors increasing the likelihood of a rapid spread of HIV include: lack of knowledge about HIV and STI and their modes of transmission; sexual behaviors as well as coercive sex.
To deal appropriately with the HIV pandemic, it is imperious to tackle this driving force behind the spread of the incurable disease in the community, while significant efforts are made to alleviate its impact on individuals and communities. The governments and civil societies have been running major HIV prevention campaigns, especially among young people. However, HIV infection is still killing millions of people every year in this continent.

As the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a significant and worsening health, economic, and social issue that according to research is complexly interlinked between ages, poverty and inequality, it is imperative that the driving force behind the spread of the incurable disease in the community is tackled. Simultaneously, significant efforts should be made to alleviate its impact on individuals and communities.