Chennai: Studies on HIV among different segments, Chennai

[Guest guest]

Assessments on HIV / AIDS among key population segments in Chennai

Background

Tamil Nadu was one of the first states in India to be considered as high

prevalence. With the first case identified in 1986 in Chennai, HIV prevention

programs were started as early as 1992. While NFHS III indicates that knowledge

about HIV/AIDS is as high as 98% in the state, it is important to understand the

knowledge and awareness among different segments of the population in order to

plan and strategize for prevention programs at the local level. With this

perspective we conducted a series of studies in early 2007 to assess the

knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS among some important segments of the

populations: school students, auto rickshaw drivers and elected community

leaders.

Assessment among school students

We conducted assessment among 222 high school students from Chennai. Ten

percent of students had not heard of HIV/AIDS and 23% did not know that HIV

could be prevented. While 72% of students were aware of one or more methods of

how HIV spreads, 32% of boys and 23% of girls were not aware of any ways in

which HIV spreads.

Interestingly, more girls (51%) than boys (38%) were aware of all four ways of

HIV transmission.

Yet about 60% of students had one or more misconceptions about HIV transmission.

More boys than girls thought that HIV could spread by using same toilet, sharing

a meal and hugging a person infected with AIDS. Encouragingly, 90% of students

thought that it was important for young people to have information about

HIV/AIDS and 89% of students also expressed that HIV/AIDS should be taught in

school and that they would be most comfortable discussing HIV/AIDS with their

friends or teachers.

Assessment among Auto Rickshaw Drivers

Auto rickshaw drivers are a unique segment, in that by virtue of their work they

come into contact with a large number of people and can therefore act as agents

spreading key messages about HIV/AIDS to the general public. With is

perspective we conducted the assessment among 130 Auto rickshaw drivers in

Chennai city earlier this year.

We found that Auto drivers were more familiar with the term AIDS and less than

10% of auto drivers were aware of HIV. On knowledge of how HIV spreads, 46%

were aware of one correct way and 28% were aware of at least two correct ways in

which HIV spreads. Interesting to note that 46% were aware that HIV spreads

through IV drug use / sharing of needles and about 25% were aware that pregnant

woman can pass HIV on to unborn child. Less than 5% reported that they knew

or had seen a HIV positive person.

More than 80% knew where to get a HIV test, but only 10% reported having taken a

HIV test. About 14% were aware that there were drugs to treat HIV; and less

than 2% were aware of ART and where one could seek treatment. Most of the auto

drivers learned the key facts about treatment and ART during this assessment and

expressed interest and willingness to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Views of Elected community leaders

Elected community leaders are an important tier of government involved in local

planning on health issues. We therefore wanted to get an understanding of the

awareness among these leaders and conducted an assessment among twenty two

community leaders from peri-urban areas around Chennai.

About 50% of the leaders expressed that HIV/ AIDS was an important health issue

that needed attention. The prevailing view among community leaders was that

HIV was on the rise, particularly among youth and if not addressed would affect

their community and have negative economic impact in the long term.

Knowledge about how HIV spreads was rather poor among these community leaders.

Only 8 out of the 22 leaders gave at least one correct way in which HIV spreads.

None of the leaders interviewed could recall anyone in their constituency

affected by HIV nor did they personally know someone affected by HIV. None of

the leaders were aware of ART or the governments ART program.

A key message from the community leaders was that more programs were needed to

be brought to the populations in villages and small towns. Another important

action they suggested to ensure program reach to all levels of the population

was to work in an integrated way and involve the local Panchayats while planning

for HIV programs locally.

Conclusion:

The findings from these assessments add to the existing evidence indicating the

need for focusing HIV prevention efforts more intensely with specific

subpopulation segments.

There exists considerable knowledge gaps about HIV/AIDS among the various

segments covered during these assessment. Working to strengthen the knowledge

and awareness among students, while challenging, must be an important focus to

protect our future communities. These assessments also point to some

opportunities, to involve different channels such as Auto rickshaw drivers, for

delivering important messages about HIV/AIDS.

Finally there is a need to empower and sensitize our elected community leaders

with correct information about HIV/AIDS, for this can bring about more local

actions for prevention, care and reducing stigma of those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Raviraaj

Munusamy Raviraaj,

Kalanjiyam Trust, Chennai

www.kalanjiyam.org

e-mail: <raviraajm@...>