Epidemiology
India has a population of one billion, more than 60% of which are in the sexually active age group. According to recent UNAIDS estimates, 5.7 million people are infected with HIV, making India home to the second highest population of people living with HIV, after South Africa.
The spread of HIV in India has been diverse, with the epidemic the most extreme in the south and the north-east. States with the highest HIV prevalence are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Manipur and Nagaland. In the southern states, infections are mostly due to heterosexual contact. The main cause of infection in Manipur and Nagaland is intravenous drug use.
The statistics may be a poor indication of the severity of the epidemic. In many cases a patient will die without being diagnosed HIV positive, and with the cause of death attributed to an opportunistic infection such as tuberculosis.
Average HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal clinics in India is 0.9%. Much higher rates are found among people attending STD clinics (5.66%), commercial sex workers (8.44%), injecting drug users (10.16%) and men who have sex with men (8.74%). For more information, check: www.nacoonline.org
More resources on the internet:
India Country Report from UNAIDS
India at a Glance from YouandAIDS
The latest news related to HIV/AIDS from PlusNews
National plans
The Government's multi-sectoral strategy for the prevention and control of AIDS in India is implemented through the National AIDS Control Organisation at the national level and State AIDS Cells at the State/UT levels.
The national AIDS control policy principally aims at the following strategy for prevention and control of the disease:
Prevention of further spread of the disease by:
- Making the people aware of its implications and provide them with the necessary tools for protecting themselves
- Controlling STDs among vulnerable sections together with promotion of condom use as a preventive measure
- Ensuring availability of safe blood and blood products
- Reinforcing the traditional Indian moral values among youth and other impressionable groups of population
To create an enabling socio-economic environment so that all sections of population can protect themselves from the infection and families and communities can provide care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS
Improving services for the care of people living with AIDS in times of sickness both in hospitals and at homes through community healthcare
If you are interested in reading the complete document, download the national AIDS prevention and Control Plan here.
