Marriage, monogamy and HIV: a profile of HIV-infected women in south India

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Marriage, monogamy and HIV: a profile of HIV-infected women in south India

S Newmann, P Sarin, N Kumarasamy, E Amalraj, M , P Madhivanan, T Flanigan,

S Cu-Uvin, S McGarvey, K Mayer and S

Int J STD AIDS 2000;11:250-253

A retrospective study was conducted on 134 HIV-infected females evaluated at an

HIV/AIDS centre in south India to characterize their socio-demographics, HIV

risk factors and initial clinical presentations.

The mean age was 29 years; 81% were housewives; 95% were currently or previously

married; 89% reported heterosexual sex as their only HIV risk factor; and 88%

reported a history of monogamy.

The majority were of reproductive age, thus the potential for vertical

transmission of HIV and devastating impacts on families is alarming. Nearly half

of these women initially presented asymptomatically implying that partner

recruitment can enable early HIV detection.

Single partner heterosexual sex with their husband was the only HIV risk factor

for the majority of women.

HIV prevention and intervention strategies need to focus on married, monogamous

Indian women whose self-perception of HIV risk may be low, but whose risk is

inextricably linked to the behaviour of their husbands.

http://ijsa.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/11/4/250