Review of the HIV Epidemic in India in AIDS Education and Prevention

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Dear Forum members

The special issue of AIDS Education and Prevention, Vol 16, Suppl A, June 2004 ,

has a peer reviewed review article about the AIDS epidemic in India. You

could use it as reference for a report or research article Here's the abstract

Review of the HIV Epidemic in India

Author(s): Suniti 1 | Anirban Chakraborty 2 | Rochelle D'Souza Yepthomi

3 doi: 10.1521/aeap.16.3.5.155.35534

AIDS Education and Prevention

Print ISSN: 0899-9546 Volume: 16 | Issue: Supplement A Cover date: June 2004

Page(s): 155-169

Abstract text

India has a population of more than 1 billion people. Although only about 0.7%

of its population is infected with HIV, it has more cases than any other country

in the world, with more than 4.5 million HIV-seropositive patients. The epidemic

of HIV/AIDS in India is distributed between the urban and rural populations

mainly in the southern and western states of the country (APAC-VHS, Community

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Tamil Nadu—A Report, 1998;

, Kumarasamy, Ganesh, & Amalraj, 1998, International Journal of Medical

Research, 85; 335–338).

India has several different epidemics in various parts of the country. The

epidemic in the western and southern states is primarily heterosexual. The

northeastern states of India, being in geographical proximity to the Golden

Triangle of Asia, initially experienced HIV in the injection drug user

population and their sexual partners, but spread to the heterosexual population

has been increasing. At present, the northern states, which are the most densely

populated, appear to remain largely unaffected by the HIV epidemic.

India has mounted a broad intervention program, including the government, and

international, nongovernmental, and community-based organizations. The main

barriers to effective control are insufficient resources, illiteracy, and

stigma.

Antiretroviral drugs are manufactured in the country and exported elsewhere, but

their affordability (despite a drastic reduction in costs) and the

feasibility of monitoring patients on drugs are in question. Starting April 1,

2004, the government of India has announced free provision of ART drugs to all

who need it in the six most prevalent states of India.

Author(s) affiliations

1. YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Chennai, India.

2. UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA. 3. YRG Centre for AIDS

Research and Education (YRG CARE), Chennai, India.

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