The main rationale for this study was to better understand the health status of South African children in relation to HIV. Children have not been adequately included in national health surveys such as the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), and this study allowed for the assessment of progress towards the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the attainment of the National Strategic Plan targets in South Africa. The objectives were: to investigate the health status of South African children; to investigate the HIV status of infants, children and adolescents; to investigate risk factors associated with HIV infection in children; to assess the exposure of children and adolescents to HIV communication programmes; to assess the male circumcision status in South African children.