HIV/AIDS Situation of Bangladesh

[Guest guest]

HIV/AIDS Situation of Bangladesh

June 23, 2009 Although Bangladesh continues to be a low prevalence area,

it is surrounded by high prevalence countries (High prevalence of HIV/AIDS in

neighboring India).

We however must not adopt a complacent attitude in respect as our country has

all the determinants for an explosive outbreak of HIV/AIDS epidemic. Curses of

poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, proximity of Bangladesh to the so-called 'Golden

Triangle' & high prevalence of STDs, make our country seriously vulnerable. Drug

use increases the HIV risk and can start very early-for example, glue-sniffing

by youngsters living or working on the streets.

The danger of becoming infected with HIV by sharing injecting equipment is well

known, and real. Unemployment, slum housing, family fragility, frequent

cross-border movement of people, lack of information, unsafe blood transfusion,

physical and sexual abuse-that create a " risk environment " of violence for many

young people in the region.

In addition increased number of migrant workers, unsafe practice in health

service, unsafe sex practice etc. movement of population, less use of condom,

polygamy, homosexuality, extra-marital relations, further increases the

susceptibility.

In Bangladesh, the intravenous drug users (IDU) are the most potential carriers

of HIV/AIDS among the vulnerable groups in the country. The fourth round of

national HIV and behavioural surveillance report showed that the HIV infection

rate among the injection drug users (IDUs) is now 4 per cent, up from 2.5 per

cent previously which is just short of the 5 per cent mark of a concentrated

epidemic.

About 93.4 per cent IDUs in central Bangladesh admitted that they share same

syringe while taking drugs. Even they use the same syringe several times for

taking drug.

UNCDP estimates that between 500,000 and 1,00,000 people in Bangladesh are

addicted to drugs. Although HIV rates are comparatively lower (one per cent)

among the sex workers but Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) rates are still

quite high (20 per cent) among this group.

On the other hand, brothel-based female sex workers in Bangladesh report the

highest turnover of clients than anywhere in Asia (an average of 18.8 clients

per week).

Meanwhile, most of the people of country are unaware about the deadly disease.

The 1999-2000 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey found that only 31 per

cent of married women and 50 per cent of newly married men had heard of AIDS.

Over 90 per cent of rickshaw pullers could not identify a single method of HIV

prevention.

About 13,000 to 17,000 people are living with the incurable virus in Bangladesh,

according to the UNAIDS report 2001.

According to the National AIDS Committee and surveillance team members and

experts, the rate is quite alarming as it remains one per cent less than the

highest five per cent HIV epidemic index. The rate of HIV/AIDS remains less than

one per cent among the other vulnerable groups -- truckers, migrant workers,

gay, hijras (hermaphrodites), professional blood donors, heroin smokers and,

hotel, brothel and street based commercial sex workers.

Bangladesh is bordered with India, the second largest HIV infected country in

the world; the country is therefore at high risk for the HIV epidemic, said

Morten Giersing, UNICEF's country representative.

http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/blog/7747-hivaids-situation-bangladesh-22565.html