Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120154660500.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

HIV prevalence rate remains steady in State

C. Maya

Thiruvananthapuram:

The HIV prevention and control strategies adopted by Kerala are going in the right direction, if the rate of HIV prevalence in the State is anything to go by.

The annual sentinel surveillance study conducted in Kerala from October 2007 to January 2008 indicates that the HIV prevalence rate has been more or less steady. In fact, the figures show a marginal decrease from 0.30 per cent in 2006 to 0.26 in 2007, putting the estimated number of people living with HIV in Kerala at 55,176.

This compares favourably against the national prevalence rate of 0.34, which translates to 2.31 million people living with HIV.

This year too, the change in the statistical methodology used to analyse the data obtained through the sentinel survey has resulted in a confusion over numbers. In 2006, National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) had put the HIV prevalence in Kerala at an all-time low of 0.13 per cent.

However, this year, the methodology adopted was changed from the pervious ‘Workbook method’ to ‘Spectrum method.’ When using this method, apart from the survey data, other factors such as the HIV prevalence over the past five years, and the age at which HIV infection was contracted, were also considered. Assessment of the sentinel survey data in 2006 using this method put the prevalence rate at 0.30 instead of 0.13 and the 2007 rate at 0.26.

This year, there were 26 sentinel survey sites and the sentinel groups included STD clinics, antenatal clinics, female sex workers, men having sex with men, intravenous drug users (IDUs) and long distance truck drivers.

Except among the IDUs, in all other groups HIV prevalence showed a downward trend. Among the IDUs, the current HIV prevalence is 7.96

NACO has identified Kerala as one among those States, which include Meghalaya, Mizoram, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Delhi, where there is a steady rise in HIV prevalence among the IDUs.

The HIV prevalence among female sex workers is only 0.40 while it is 1.20 in the men having sex with men.

The growing population of IDUs and men having sex with men and the high level of HIV positivity among them are thus major challenges for the State’s HIV prevention and control strategies.

Experts working in the HIV area in the State point out that the female sex workers in the State are a more aware group, who consciously adopt safe-sex practices. In contrast, use of safe methods is quite low among men having sex with men – a large number of them being bisexuals having normal families. The rise in HIV prevalence among this group is a danger sign because they could be bringing the infection into their families.