Around 1.3 million people are living with HIV in Tanzania, which the Tanzanian government equates to an overall HIV prevalence of 5.7 percent. Although this percentage has recently fallen slightly, the epidemic’s severity differs widely from region to region, with some regions reporting a prevalence of less than 2 percent (Arusha) and others as high as 16 percent (Iringa). The HIV epidemic on Tanzania mainland is described as generalised, meaning it affects all sectors of the population. Heterosexual sex accounts for the majority of infections (80 percent) in Tanzania mainland. On the semi autonomous island of Zanzibar the HIV prevalence is far lower among the general population (0.6 percent) and the epidemic is more concentrated, primarily affecting female sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users (IDUs). The current situation in Tanzania A study published in 2005, using evidence drawn from Kenya and Tanzania exposed some findings which challenged some widely held assumptions about the effects of HIV and AIDS. The study found that generally the highest prevalence of HIV was found amongst the wealthiest households, particularly affecting wealthy women, as opposed to poorer and rural households. However, the HIV prevalence gap between wealthier urban groups and poorer rural communities is slowly closing. A 2008 study found that knowledge of sexually transmitted infections was ‘alarmingly low’ in rural Tanzania and associated with low condom use and HIV infection.  Reduced prevalence has mainly been noted among the most educated (those who attended secondary school) while among those with no formal education, prevalence has not decreased and the number of new infections has risen. Because access to health care and knowledge of HIV and AIDS is typically lower in rural areas, prevention efforts must be increased if new infections are going to be reduced. Most Affected: Women Women in Tanzania are particularly affected by HIV and AIDS. In 2008, women comprised over 60 percent of people living with HIV. Among the 15-24 age group, this figure rises to 75 percent.16 Women tend to become infected earlier, which is partly due to the tendency of women to have older partners or get married earlier. Children According to the 2007-2009 HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey there are 130,000 children living with HIV and almost 1 million children orphaned by AIDS in Tanzania. Grandmothers and other relatives often provide invaluable support to orphans, but they are still more vulnerable to poverty, sexual abuse and poor nutrition than children who live with both their parents Youth Like most other sub-Saharan African countries, Tanzania has a very young population. A third of the country’s population are aged 10 to 24, when most become sexually active. An estimated seven percent of 15-24 year olds are infected with HIV but risky sexual behaviour among 15-19 year olds has been decreasing in recent years. The Tanzanian Education Project Helping Tanzanian students find a better future for themselves.