Final answer:
East and Southern Africa have the highest HIV infection rates at 7.1%, followed by West and Central Africa at 2.2%, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at 0.9%, Latin America and the Caribbean at 0.5%, with the lowest rates in the Middle East and North Africa, Southern Asia, Australia, the Pacific, Western and Central Europe, and North America all at 0.3%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To rank these world regions in order of the number of people infected with HIV from greatest to least, based on the provided data:
- East and Southern Africa = 7.1%
- West and Central Africa = 2.2%
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia = 0.9%
- Latin America and the Caribbean = 0.5%
- Middle East and North Africa = 0.3%
- Southern Asia, Australia, and the Pacific = 0.3%
- Western and Central Europe and North America = 0.3%
East and Southern Africa have the highest prevalence of HIV infections with a significant 7.1% of adults aged 15-49, indicative of the severe epidemic the region faces. In comparison, regions like Western and Central Europe, North America, Southern Asia, Australia, and the Pacific, as well as the Middle East and North Africa, have a relatively low prevalence rate of 0.3%, suggesting more effective disease control and access to treatments in these areas. Differences in prevalence rates across regions may be attributed to factors such as access to medical care, public health initiatives, and socio-economic conditions.