Jordan ranks among the countries with a very low prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

As the world commemorates World AIDS Day on the 1st of December 2024, the Higher Council for Population Affairs is releasing this media briefing, grounded in scientific evidence and data, to inform the public and media about the facts of this disease and ways to prevent it. This aligns with Jordan's commitment to the global Sustainable Development Agenda, specifically SDG 3, which aims to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.

To this end, the Council has released a comprehensive paper on HIV/AIDS, containing scientific facts and statistics. This document was prepared in collaboration with experts from the Ministry of Health and Sawaaed for Community Empowerment.

According to epidemiological data, Jordan is fortunate to have a very low HIV prevalence rate, with less than one case per 100,000 people. According to annual reports on communicable diseases and the National AIDS Control Program issued by the Ministry of Health, the first HIV case was reported in 1986. Since then, and until the end of 2023, a cumulative total of 628 cases among Jordanians and 1347 cases among non-Jordanians have been recorded over 37 years. It is worth noting that the cost of medications provided by the Ministry of Health to people living with HIV is approximately 1,000 Jordanian Dinars per person per month. Regarding deaths among Jordanians due to this disease, a cumulative total of 173 deaths were recorded between 1986 and 2022.

The annual statistical reports of the Ministry of Health include data on the number of new annual HIV infections, categorized by the age and gender of the infected individual, their nationality, the location where the infection occurred, and the mode of transmission. Sexual contact accounted for approximately 72% of infections, making it the primary cause of transmission. Approximately 54% of the total number of Jordanian cases between 1986 and 2022 were acquired within Jordan, with more than half of these cases resulting from heterosexual contact and one-fifth from male-to-male sexual contact.

Regarding the age of those infected, the majority of HIV infections between 1986 and 2023 were concentrated in the 20-39 age group, The number of infected males in this age group constituted 61% of the total number of infected males, while the percentage of infections among females in this age group amounted to about 57% of the total number of infected females. To prevent HIV infection, it is crucial to assess and measure the knowledge of the target population regarding transmission routes. While awareness of HIV is high in Jordan, comprehensive knowledge, as measured by the 2023 Demographic and Health Survey, includes understanding the correct use of condoms during sexual intercourse, the benefits of having a single, uninfected partner, and recognizing that a healthy-looking individual can be HIV-positive. Additionally, it is essential to dispel common misconceptions about HIV transmission and prevention, such as the belief that HIV can be transmitted through mosquito bites or shared food. The 2023 survey revealed low levels of knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention among young people aged 15-24, particularly among Jordanian young women who were previously married (11%) and Jordanian young men, regardless of marital status (22%). This highlights the need for increased efforts to educate the target population about HIV transmission and prevention. Moreover, awareness among men and women regarding the availability of medications to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission was also low.

The 2023 survey also indicated high levels of stigmatization towards people living with HIV among both men and women (91%). Such discriminatory attitudes, also prevalent in other countries, stem from fear of contracting the deadly virus and a desire to avoid contact with infected individuals, even family members. However, HIV is not transmitted through casual contact like handshakes, sitting next to someone, or sharing food. Stigma hinders HIV prevention efforts and can increase the risk of transmission as people living with HIV may be hesitant to seek care and treatment due to fear of discrimination.  

While many regions have made significant progress in reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, the World Health Organization has reported a 116% increase in new HIV infections in the Eastern Mediterranean region between 2010 and 2023. Additionally, the decline in AIDS-related deaths in this region was the lowest compared to other regions of the world.