Re:Profiles of Attendees in a VCTC in Darjeeling Dist of West Bengal

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

My comments on the study posted on 27/3/07. Profiles of Attendees in

a VCTC in Darjeeling Dist of West Bengal by Joardar et al

Re: /message/7062

Interesting study. I have few comments about the tone of the language

and the assumptions based on the stereotypical understanding of the

researchers.

I think the HIV positive unmarried men have been labeled as

Prospective transmitters of HIV in the study.

Also we cannot say that higher education offers protection based on

the findings of this study. It may as well be that people from higher

education groups do not access govt. facilities for HIV services.

Assumption that infected husbands are the only source of infection

for housewives is again based on societal norm that married women

don't have sex out of marriage.

Another myth could be that spread of HIV is always from the urban to

the rural areas. Researchers themselves have then stated that

highways may pass through the village and hence making local villagers

vulnerable to sex activity.

Also may I know how many of the attendees who are clients of sex

workers are married??

Swati Pongurlekar

e-mail: <swatip187@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: /message/7062

With reference to the study on the Profiles of Attendees in a VCTC in

Darjeeling Dist of West Bengal by Joardar et al I think the HIV positive

unmarried men have been labeled as Prospective transmitters of HIV in the study.

- This cannot be taken as the end result and bargained upon, it can be taken as

a trend only, which means efforts applied with this group will help prevention

in large numbers which are more focused.

Also we cannot say that higher education offers protection based on the findings

of this study. It may as well be that people from higher education groups do

not access govt. facilities for HIV services. – Over the years I have also begin

to believe that “thinking” is different from “learning.” All what we have learnt

need not be converted into positive thinking.

How ever thinking is associated with what one believes. Therefore

concentration should be aimed to find out how many think on the need for

protection. Rather than how many are educated on knowing about

protection.

Assumption that infected husbands are the only source of infection for

housewives is again based on societal norm that married women don't have sex

out of marriage.

This thinking holds good, we have had a similar study amidst the film industry,

where in among the persons with multi partner sexual history (mean of 9

partners) there are very few who use condoms, how ever among those using condoms

(men) none of them use with their married partners and the majority of the

married partners are from the industry itself again quoting to have multi

partner sexual history.

This group of women are also house wives at times, because most of them do not

get jobs all 30 days of the month.

Another myth could be that spread of HIV is always from the urban

to the rural areas. Researchers themselves have then stated that highways may

pass through the village and hence making local villagers

vulnerable to sex activity.

Today we have a situation where in we may not rate the transmission, but attempt

to quantify so that we are more focused. I think we need to narrow down even

more in order to become more focused for which I feel all targeted interventions

should have a component of operational research within our findings to support

our activities.

Also may I know how many of the attendees who are clients of sex workers are

married?? – This will perhaps also talk of the risk of the wives into HIV.

Ms. Shyamala Ashok

Executive Director (SFDRT)

Rathna Complex, Salai,

Pondicherry - 605001

Tel: 91-413-2225658; 22220058

email: sfdrt@..., aabinand@...

web: www.sfdrt.org