76 Eastern Cape accounted for over 50% of the proportion of people living with HIV in South Africa. All provinces have more people living with HIV over the years since 2004. The HIV prevalence peaked in females aged 30-34 years at 36.8% among males at 24.2% in the 3539 year age group.46 In this survey the prevalence peaked 5 years later for both males and females as compared to the previous three surveys of 2002, 2005 and 2008), which also reflects increased ARV treatment coverage. Figure 1.1. above shows Prevalence by age and sex, South Africa, 2012. Source: HSRC HIV&AIDS Population Survey 2012. A major developmental achievement is that there has been a decline of HIV prevalence among youth aged 15 – 24 years from 10.3% in 2005 to 8.7% in 2008 and 7.3% in 2012.47 Successive years of prevention of mother to child transmission and youth HIV prevention programmes seem to have had the requisite effect of reduction of HIV prevalence in this age category. The HIV epidemic remains feminized with the key age group of adults aged 15-49 years the HIV prevalence is 23.3% among females and 13.3% among males.48 This shows a 10% difference between the sexes which highlights that the brunt of the epidemics is still felt mainly among females. 46 47 48 Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) HIV&AIDS Population Survey 2012. Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) HIV&AIDS Population Survey 2012. Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) HIV&AIDS Population Survey 2012. 76