HIV: Housewives, professionals at high risk now

[Guest guest]

TNN, Aug 6, 2010, CHENNAI: After years of providing treatment, care and

support for HIV/AIDS among high risk groups like truckers, commercial sex

workers, injectable drug users and transgenders, the government is suddenly

faced with a new challenge -- the increasing incidence of HIV among youth,

possibly due to unsafe casual sex.

Concerned by the trend, the Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society (TNSACS) is

organising a youth carnival to create awareness and promote safe sex.

The state has been boasting about a decline of infection in the population, but

those working in the HIV/AIDS sector fear that there is an increase in the

incidence of the disease. A recent analysis undertaken by TNSACS has shown that

the profiles of the newly infected people were not from the high risk groups.

" Instead they were housewives, single working people and students. We also did a

study on usage of condoms among youth. That's when we found that many have

occasional unprotected intercourse with multiple partners, " said Dr.

S.Thennarasu, the regional coordinator.

Other senior officals in TNSAC confirmed the trend. " The infection rate is high

only within the age-group of 15-29 years. Today, casual sex has a fair amount of

social acceptance. Mobility amidst both sexes is on the rise, " the official

added.

Others working in the sector agree. " There is a clear decline in the HIV

prevalence rates among sex workers and truckers. In a small study we found that

casual sex among working professionals particularly those in garment industry

and the BPO sector was high. " said Dr R Lakshmibai, the project director of TAI.

As per data furnished by the TNSAC, the prevalence of HIV among commercial sex

workers had decreased from 8.8% in 2003 to 3.6% in 2007. Consequently, even

prevalence of other Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STD) had decreased from 16.8%

in 2000 to 8% in 2007.

However, the state registered a total of 28,000 cases in 2008-09 and 30,000 new

cases in 2009-10.

" There were only basic awareness programs conducted for the general population.

Otherwise, we focused only on target groups. It's probably time to change that, "

said an official. TNSACS, in association with APAC and TAI will organise a youth

carnival in August that will attempt to sensitise them to the dangers of unsafe

sex with strangers. " Intercourses with multiple partners is always risky, "

explained Dr Bimal , project director of Aids Prevention and Control

Project (APAC). " And the youth are always prone to experimentation. If they are

not aware of safety, it increases the risk. "

The Carnival will attempt to create awareness through mediums the youth relate

to, like video and short film competitions on the issue, workshops, jingles and

jazzy numbers. " Already, the few interactions that we had with the youth helped

us realise that they were hungry for information on this topic. "

Read more: HIV: Housewives, professionals at high risk now - Chennai - City -

The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/HIV-Housewives-professionals-at-\

high-risk-now/articleshow/6263505.cms#ixzz1cU5CgqeP

[Guest guest]

Re: HIV: Housewives, professionals at high risk now

/message/11811

Recruitment and Training programs need to be prepared and taught to a wide

selection of the sexually active citizens in T N in cultural and peer sensitive

ways but they must include prevention strategies and safer sex practices.

Since most of the decision making is being approved by people whose sex lives

are somewhat prescribed there is a need to think like a post pubescent youth or

a sexually deprived housewife etc and deliver safer sex messages.

Depending on abstinence education or celibacy within marriage is only

marginally effective.

Lets get real with our prevention education because HIV is so much more easily

avoided than it was 25 years ago.

Geoff Heaviside

Convenor - Brimbank Community Initiatives Inc

Convenor - Brimbank International Student Support Services

Secretary - International Centre for Health Equity Inc

Member - Australasian Society for HIV Medicine Inc

P.O. Box 2400 s Lakes 3038

Melbourne . Australia.

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