In general, central Africa tends to be one of the poorer parts of this continent. This poverty is reflected in the following statistics. The life expectancy rate in this country is only 47 (compared to 54 in South Africa). 50% of the population is Catholic and 20% is Protestant. The per capita GDP is a mere $400 and 59% of the working sector is in agriculture. Also, because of the vast poverty in this country there is only minimal infrastructure (300 airports, limited highways).
     D.R.C has a current infection rate of 26,131 people per every 100,000 in a population of 49,000,511.
     The percentage of HIV infection in the D.R.C is dramatically high for several reasons. The first reason is the obvious poverty, evident by the low per capita GDP, that exists across this country. Since the majority of the work force is farmers they also tend to feel economic downturns even more than urban workers do and, as a result, many family infrastructures have been broken down as people have made a mass exodus for the large cities. Since HIV is more prominent in urban areas and as people leave their families they often have an increased need for casual sex, this exodus has lead to a dramatic increase in HIV/AIDS cases.
     Furthermore, as the result of the feminization of poverty, most women are incapable of even acquiring the per capita GDP of a mere $400, and are thus forced to sell sexual favors in order to eat, find shelter, and basically survive.
     Finally, it is important to remember that when people are struggling for basic day to day survival as they are in the D.R.C, they are often not open to change. Especially when the change has to do with something as personal as sex. As a result, despite the effort to educate many in the Democratic Republic of the Congo few have changed their behavior or increased their use of condoms.

To learn more about this country please see these two web sites:
 

Congo Pages

CNN