ActionAid International Southern Africa Partnership Programme (SAPP-Zimbabwe) 3.3.1.2 Chronically ill Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected, where HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of adult morbidity and mortality. The HIV/AIDS pandemic reaches into most social and economic aspects of life in at least half the sub-Saharan African countries. The magnitude and depth of HIV/AIDS impacts in sub-Saharan Africa are staggering and Zimbabwe, in particular, which is ranked fourth on prevalence rate in the world. It has been estimated that the prevalence rate in Zimbabwe is approximately 25%. It is with this scope, that this study investigated this HIV/AIDS. Chronically ill individuals, in the study, are those who have been ill for 3 months or longer prior to the study and are suffering from a recurring illness, which results in loss of productive labour. This would include individuals with HIV/AIDS, TB and other long-term illnesses. Therefore, chronic illness is used as a proxy for HIV/AIDS since establishment of HIV/AIDS status would be both difficult and controversial. Chronically ill individuals were present in 13.4% of households surveyed. Further analysis reveals in these 13.4% households a total of 23,344 individuals were chronically ill (i.e. 18% of the overall population). However, both these statistics may be an underestimation due to stigma still attached to HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, due to the sensitivity and confidentiality of the information this survey did not exhaustively explore HIV/AIDS even though it is of great importance. More detailed figures are presented in Table 5 below for several strata. Chronically ill individuals comprise the majority of the vulnerable in this category. There is a small but significant difference between the percentages of chronically ill found in male- and female-headed households. Table 5: Percent of households with chronically ill and mentally/physically challenged persons Chronically Ill Mentally/physically Individuals challenged individuals Category % of households General Population 13.4 6 Male-headed households 12 5 Female-headed households 16 6 3.3.1.3 Mentally ill and physically challenged The surveyed also inquired on the presents of mentally and/or physically challenged individuals in a household. Six percent (6%) of households interviewed were hosting either mentally or physically challenged persons. No variation was noted between the male- and female headed households. Only 10,720 (approximately 8% of the population) individuals were reported to be either mentally or physically challenged. Similar results from the 6 areas were recorded with a range of 4 to 6% prevalence rate. 3.3.1.4 Elderly headed households Approximately 10% of household heads surveyed in the study are above 60 years. A slight difference was observed for male heads of households compared to female heads (12% vs. 10%, respectively). The mean age of elderly headed households was 67 years (with a range of 60 to 90 years). Results obtained across the 6 areas were similar. Zimbabwe Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order National Survey Report 12