Mid-term qualitative assessment of participants' experiences and perceptions of community dialogues as a way to discuss and affect concurrent sexual partnership practices in Lesotho: an executive summary

The HIV prevalence rate among adults aged 15-49 in Lesotho was estimated at 23.2% in 2008 (Khobotle et al, 2009), making it the third highest in the world. It is estimated that there are around 270,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country, with 60 people dying every day from AIDS complications. Evidence suggests that Multiple Concurrent Partnerships (MCP) constitute a significant driver of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Lesotho. The Modes of Transmission study, undertaken by the Lesotho NAC, estimates that MCP is linked to more than 60% of all new HIV infections. Furthermore, concurrent partnerships often go unreported by the person with more than one partner and in Lesotho.