AIDS cases show a drop

[Guest guest]

NEW DELHI: The number of people infected with the AIDS virus in India continues

to nose dive. In July, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) put the

prevalence at 0.36% of the population.

On Thursday, the National Family and Health Survey-III, which tested blood

samples of 1,00,000 women and men in age group of 15-49 for HIV, put the

prevalence rate at 0.28%. This was the second time such a large scale

community-based survey to estimate HIV prevalence was carried out in the world.

Earlier, only Cambodia had managed such a feat, but the number was obviously

much smaller.

Till July 2007, it was estimated that the prevalence of HIV in the general

population was 0.9%. After NACO’s announcement in July, India became the third

worst affected country with the deadly disease after South Africa (5.5 million)

and Nigeria (2.9 million).

NFHS-III has also found that men have higher prevalence rate with 0.36% than

women with 0.22%. For both men and women, the prevalence was highest in the

30-34 year age group.

Cities recorded a 40% more HIV prevalence than rural areas. In Tamil Nadu, the

prevalence rate is higher among women, while across the country it is higher

among men than women. The infection rates varied from 1.13% in Manipur, 0.97% in

Andhra, 0.34% in TN, and 0.07% in UP.

Awareness of AIDS was also found to be high — 61% of women and 84% of men of

15-49 years had heard of AIDS. At least 7 out of 10 men know each of the ABC

prevention methods — abstinence, being faithful and condoms — as compared to

only 4 in 10 women.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/AIDS_cases_show_a_drop/articleshow/2450\

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