It's against the background of what epidemiologists call the ‘world's first political disease’, that former President Nelson Mandela commanded the most authoritative study yet on HIV/AIDS prevalence in South Africa, officially titled the Nelson Mandela/HSRC Study of HIV/AIDS. This pioneering study, backed up by oral-swab saliva HIV tests, went much further than any other survey of its kind. The study is a collaborative effort of the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health research programme (SAHA) of the HSRC, Medical Research Council (MRC), Centre for AIDS Development Research and Evaluation (CADRE) and Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida (ANRS), with the assistance of Geospace International in the creation of a Master Sample. The study is based on a representative sample of 9 963 people drawn from households across the country, of whom 8 428 consented to submit saliva for testing.

Released on 5 December 2002, the Full Report includes a full cultural and demographic survey on prevalence, providing information for different races, genders, and age groups in urban and rural areas. It looks at sexual behaviour and current prevention, education and awareness programmes and campaigns; identifies obstacles to reduce risky behaviour; and examines whether media messages are understood and accepted. Thus, while the Executive Summary provides the Introduction, Results, Conclusions and Recommendations of the study, the Full Report also contains the Methodology, Tables, Figures, Appendices and References.