TN finds AIDS battle getting tougher from AIDS TN

November 26, 2009

SURVEY FINDINGS - TN finds AIDS battle getting tougher

Tamil Nadu may proudly lead the country when it comes to HIV/AIDS control

programmes, but a recent survey has revealed several challenges that

policy-makers have to grapple with misconceptions about the disease, reduction

in use of condoms with regular partners, and, most worryingly, decrease in the

perception of risk that puts one in danger of contracting the illness.

Headed by Voluntary Health Services, the 12th edition of the yearly HIV Risk

Behavioural Surveillance Survey was conducted across the urban areas in 13

districts of TN by the AIDS Prevention and Control Project (APAC) that works

with the government, NGOs and institutions involved in AIDS intervention

programmes. Over 15,000 people, including female sex workers (FSWs), men having

sex with men (MSM), truckers, migrant and factory workers and students were the

subjects.

" Even though awareness about preventing the disease is very high, these

vulnerable groups have several misconceptions they believe that the disease can

spread through coughing and sneezing, or through mosquito bites, " said Mr

P.Rajendhran, programme manager, APAC. While nearly two-thirds of the surveyed

groups do not voluntarily get condoms for themselves, except MSMs, the

contraceptive is hardly employed with regular partners.

The fact that more and more students, especially girls and aravanis, believe

that the risky behaviour they indulged in would not make them contract the

disease was a disturbing trend, health secretary V.K. Subburaj said. If there is

no fear, the need to protect oneself declines and this calls for intervention,

he said.

Another hurdle was the increase in stigma and discrimination associated with the

illness, said Mr Bimal , project director, APAC. While FSWs feel the

disease is a mark of shame, truck drivers think it spreads only through sex

workers and thus a person infected with the disease has `loose character', he

said.

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_______________________

A.SANKAR

Executive Director- EMPOWER - Professional Civil Society Organisation

107J / 133E, puram

TUTICORIN-628 008, TN, INDIA

Telefax: 91 461 2310151; Mobile: 91 94431 48599: www.empowerindia.org

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