RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The AIDS mortality rate in Brazil fell from 5.7 deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants in 2012 to 4.8 deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants in 2017, down by 16 percent, the Brazilian Health Ministry announced Tuesday.

The ministry attributed the decrease to a combination of factors, including the higher penetration rate of AIDS treatment and HIV tests in the country, improvements in diagnostics, and a shorter time interval between diagnosis and the beginning of treatment.

"It is the first time in 20 years we have such a significant fall in mortality rates," said Adele Benzaken, head of the Ministry's Department for the Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV.

The number of new AIDS cases also fell by 16 percent during that period. In 2012, the number of AIDS cases in Brazil was 21.7 for every 100,000 inhabitants. By 2017, the figure had fallen to 18.3 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, said the ministry.

In addition, Brazil registered a significant reduction in the occurrence of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The Brazilian government will launch a nationwide campaign to raise people's awareness about AIDS, said the ministry. Currently, 73 percent of new infections by the HIV in Brazil occurs among males aged 15-39.