Research indicates stagnation in South Africa's HIV prevention progress

A new study in The Lancet HIV, published October 27, 2026, suggests that HIV prevention efforts in South Africa may be losing momentum. The research, focusing on the uMkhanyakude district, found a significant reduction in new infections between 2013 and 2018, but a subsequent plateau in HIV incidence from 2019 to 2025 for both men and women. This indicates a potential challenge in sustaining progress against the epidemic.