Background

 

In India, almost 4 million are infected with HIV (2001 UNAIDS estimate). The only other country with a higher number of people living with HIV/AIDS is South Africa. The following table gives a snapshot of the HIV/AIDS situation in India.

 

HIV/AIDS IN INDIA

 

 INDICATOR

ESTIMATE

HIV Prevalence Rates

   Prevalence rate, adults age 15–49

0.8%

   Median prevalence in antenatal clinics, major urban areas (1999)

2.0%

   Median prevalence in antenatal clinics, outside major urban areas (2000)

2.0%

   Median prevalence among STI patients, major urban areas (1999)

6.4%

   Median prevalence among STI patients, outside major urban areas (1999)

4.8%

   Median prevalence among female sex workers, major urban areas (2000)

5.3%

   Median prevalence among injecting drug users (2000)

8.0%

   Median prevalence among tuberculosis patients, major urban areas (1999)

33.0%

   Median prevalence among tuberculosis patients, outside major urban areas (1999)

13.0%

Key Behaviors

   Reported condom use at last higher-risk sex, females (2001)

40%

   Reported condom use at last higher-risk sex, males (2001)

51%
Children Affected by HIV/AIDS

   Orphan prevalence, 2001 estimate

7.8%

   Orphan prevalence, 2005 projection

7.4%

   Orphan prevalence, 2010 projection

6.8%

 

Data sources:

1. AIDS Epidemic Update—December 2002 (UNAIDS) <http://www.unaids.org/worldaidsday/2002/press/Epiupdate.html>

2. Children on the Brink 2002 (USAID) <http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNACP860.pdf>

3. HIV/AIDS Survey Indicators Database <http://www.measuredhs.com/hivdata/>

 

 

Project Highlight from the Child Survival and Health Grants Program (CSHGP)

 

Population Services International (PSI) is implementing CSHGP-funded child survival activities in the states of Jharkand, Uttaranchal, and Uttar Pradesh, India. Although HIV/AIDS is not an official part of the project's intervention mix, PSI is integrating HIV prevention into a number of its activities. For example, the CS project promotes socially marketed condoms as a dual-benefit method (as both a method of birth spacing and a method of protection against HIV/AIDS/STIs). PSI is also partnering with CARE on a media campaign that addresses risk perception, abstinence, fidelity, and a general theme of being safe and staying healthy.

 

For more information on PSI's activities in India, contact Amy McDonagh at AMCDONAGH@psi.org.

 

 

Technical Resources on HIV/AIDS in India

 

·         For information on USAID’s HIV/AIDS support to India:

            http://www.usaid.gov/pop_health/aids/Countries/ane/india.html


·         UNAIDS Epidemiological Fact Sheet on India (2002):

http://www.unaids.org/hivaidsinfo/statistics/fact_sheets/pdfs/India_en.pdf

 

·         HIV/AIDS Survey Indicators Database: http://www.measuredhs.com/hivdata/

 

·         Examples of resources included in the VRC that have information on India:

 

RESOURCE DESCRIPTION

URL

CONDOMS—a searchable database of IEC materials and other resources on condoms (JHU/CCP)

http://condoms.jhuccp.org/

 

Trust is a Principal Barrier to Condom Use (PSI)

http://www.psi.org/resources/pubs/rb-1.pdf

HIV Counseling and Testing: A Gateway to Prevention and Care: Five Case Studies Related to PMTCT, TB, Young People, and Reaching the General Population (UNAIDS)

http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNACP801.pdf

Stigma, HIV/AIDS and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS: A Pilot Study in Zambia, India, Ukraine, and Burkina Faso

http://www.panos.org.uk/aids/stigma_countries_study.htm

USAID Project Profiles: Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (second edition)

http://www.usaid.gov/pop_health/aids/Publications/docs/cabaprojectprofiles.pdf

India’s National AIDS Prevention and Control Policy

http://www.naco.nic.in/nacp/ctrlpol.htm

India’s HIV/AIDS-related guidelines

http://www.naco.nic.in/nacp/guide.htm

 

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Asia: Practical Guidance for Programs

http://www.linkagesproject.org/publications/pmtctasia.html