The Hindu : Front Page : HIV prevalence in State coming down

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006

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Front Page

HIV prevalence in State coming down

Ramya Kannan

— File photo

The symbol of the Tamil Nadu Aids Control Society.

CHENNAI: Has Tamil Nadu finally progressed from being a high incidence state to a mid prevalence state in HIV cases? The question is being raised at a time when the HIV Sentinel Surveillance data for 2005 shows the prevalence curve dipping to reach an all-time low of 0.5 per cent.

The latest study conducted by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society claims that the prevalence among antenatal women (pregnant women are taken to be representative of prevalence in the community) has fallen to 0.5 per cent. "It remains to be seen if the Central government will take us out of the current `high prevalence' status," State Health Secretary, Sheela Rani Chunkath, said.

Sixty nine sites comprising 24 district headquarters hospitals, 29 first referral units, five private nursing homes and five sites for women aged 15-24 years were chosen for the survey.

While there has been a clear increase in prevalence values closer to National Highways, it seemed to be balanced by low prevalence rates in the east coast region. Namakkal continues to be the highest prevalence district with a figure of 2.15 per cent, followed by Erode (1.34). While 0.50 per cent of the urban population tested positive, the percentage among the rural population is 0.58.

Epidemiologists say the drop in prevalence rates is due to a higher level of safety in sexual behaviour.

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