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The Bureau for Economic Research (BER) initiated its HIV/AIDS research in 1999 with a study of the macro-economic impact of the epidemic on the SA economy. The results of this study were released during 2000/1. This research was subsequently complemented with sectoral and other dedicated privately commissioned studies. The latest development regarding the BER's HIV/AIDS research, is a longitudinal study - commenced in July 2004 - of the epidemic's impact on business in SA on the basis of an annual survey commissioned and financed by the South African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA). The BER intends to expand its research on the business impact of the epidemic in years to come and the SABCOHA survey will go a long way in achieving this.

The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Selected Business Sectors in South Africa 2005.

The SABCOHA survey on the impact of HIV/AIDS on selected business sectors in South Africa was conducted by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) among respondents in the mining, manufacturing, retail, wholesale, motor trade, building & construction, financial services and transport & storage sectors. The survey took place from 20 July to 6 September 2005 and 1032 companies participated in the survey.

Apart from the fact that the survey was expanded to the transport & storage sector and certain new questions were introduced, the 2005 survey is a repetition of the 2003 and 2004 HIV/AIDS surveys by the BER and SABCOHA. The results from the 2005 survey did not differ dramatically from that of the 2004 survey. This serves to affirm the findings of the previous surveys and validate the findings of the 2005 survey.

The survey results suggest that the mining sector, followed by the manufacturing and transport & storage sectors, are the worst affected among the sectors surveyed. Responses also differ significantly between companies of varying sizes and skills levels and between companies from different provinces. Compared to medium and large companies, a considerably lower percentage of small companies (with less than 100 employees) have noted HIV/AIDS related impacts.

Similarly, companies that employ predominantly semi- & unskilled workers have been much harder hit by the epidemic than companies that employ mainly highly skilled workers. Companies based in the Western Cape have experienced a significantly smaller impact compared to companies located in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, two provinces with some of the highest HIV prevalence rates.

Click here to download the full report.

The BER and HIV/AIDS Research
 
In June 2000 the BER released its first introductory research on what was known about HIV/AIDS and the SA economy at that stage.  This was followed by a comprehensive and in-depth macro-economic impact study released in September 2001.  Subsequently, the BER was approached by a number of organizations to conduct dedicated AIDS impact studies.  (Unfortunately, the content of these reports remains confidential.)  In the latest development, the BER revisited its macro-economic impact study in 2005, also accounting for the impact of anti-retroviral treatment (ART). This research was completed in 2006.

Click here to acces the following information on the BER website:

The BER/SABCOHA November 2005 Report: 

  • The PDF copy of the complete 2005 SABCOHA report 
  • SABCOHA media release (30 November 2005) - English 
  • SABCOHA media PowerPoint presentation (pdf) (30 November 2005)  - English

The BER/SABCOHA November 2004 Report:

  • PDF copy of the complete 2004 SABCOHA report
  • SABCOHA media release (25 November 2004) - English 
  • SABCOHA media PowerPoint presentation (pdf) (25 November 2004)  -English

BER/SABCOHA February 2004 Business Breakfast meeting:

  • PDF copy of the complete SABCOHA report (1.154 KB)
  • SABCOHA media release (3 February 2004) - English
  • SABCOHA media PowerPoint presentation (pdf) (3 February 2004) - English)
  • Information on the BER/ SABCOHA February 2004 Business Breakfast meeting (pdf) - English

The BER/SABCOHA December 2003 Media Presentation: 

  • SABCOHA media PowerPoint presentation (4 December 2003) (pdf) - English 
  • SABCOHA media release, click here (4 December 2003) - English 
  • SABCOHA persverklaring, kliek hier (4 Desember 2003) - Afrikaans
 
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