Information on HIV seroprevalence among antenatal clinic attendees is available since 1986 from Burundi.

From 1985-87 to 1997, HIV seroprevalence among antenatal women increased from 14.7% to 27.7% in Bujumbura, then decreased 19.8% in 1998, 15.9% in 1999, and to 14% and 16% in 2000 and 2001. The HIV prevalence declined from 20.9% in 1991, to 17.3% in 1995, and 9.8% in 2001 among young women aged 15-24 years in urban ANC sites.

In 2002, a national survey showed HIV prevalence in the general population at 5.4%. HIV prevalence rates in the urban, semi-urban and rural areas were 9.4%, 10.5% and 2.5% respectively. In a national survey in 1989, the HIV prevalence rate for urban areas was 11.0% while that for rural areas was 0.7%. The 2002 survey found that women in urban areas were more likely to be infected with HIV than men; 13.0% versus 5.5%, while approximately the same proportion of women and men in rural areas were infected: 2.9% women and 2.1% men.

Bénin has a well-functioning surveillance system among ANC that was established in 1990. Several research studies have generated important data on the epidemic. In 2002, the median HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal care clinics at 36 sites was 1.9%. In 2002, HIV prevalence in Cotonou was 2.3%. Data generated from the four-city UNAIDS study indicate that HIV prevalence among adults aged 15-49 years in Cotonou was 3.3% for men and 3.4% for women in 1997/1998. In 2002, HIV prevalence among sex workers in the four areas studied, Porto Novo, Parakou Abomey-Bohicon and Cotonou, was 44.7%. HIV prevalence among clients of sex workers in the four study areas was 7.2%. Trend in ANC was 1999-2000: 4.3 (3.4-5.1), 2001: 3.8 (3.3-4.3) and 2002 2.0 (1.4-2.8).

Among sex workers in Cotonou, HIV prevalence declined from 59.5% in 1996 to 49.6% in 1999 and 38.9% in 2002.