This HIV prevalence and knowledge, attitude, behaviour and practice (KABP) study in the tertiary education sector of South Africa is one component of the Higher Education HIV and AIDS (HEAIDS) programme (Phase 2). It represents the fi rst comprehensive attempt to survey the scope and impact of HIV and AIDS in the higher education sector in South Africa. The overall purpose of the HEAIDS programme is to reduce the threat of HIV and AIDS in the higher education sector and to mitigate its impact.

The purpose of this study was to enable the higher education sector to understand the threat posed by the epidemic to its core mandate. This was done through determining, at the institutional and sector level, the prevalence and distribution of HIV and associated risk factors among the staff and students at public, higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. The results were used to conduct an assessment of the risks posed by the HIV epidemic to the sector and their respective populations and make recommendations to mitigate potential impacts.