Number of HIV-infected women growing in UP

[Guest guest]

Number of HIV-infected women growing in UP, 28 March 2001

The Times of India, By A Staff Reporter

LUCKNOW LUCKNOW: The growing number of HIV positive and full blown AIDS cases

among UP women has set alarm bells ringing among experts. The ratio reported

till 1997 was 4:1 (four men and one woman), but, according to the latest

statics, it has doubled over the past four years. The trend, as the KGMC

records reveal, is one woman to two men, says Dr AK Tripathi, nodal officer

for documentation and collection of AIDS-related data at the hospital.

Majority of the women patients are those who have contacted the virus from

their spouses, he informed. 

Expressing concern over the growing number of AIDS cases in the KGMC OPD, Dr

Tripathi claimed that the number easily varied from 12 to 15 every month. This

excluded cases reported at the 10 Sentinel surveillance centres in UP or

those going to private clinics for detection. The comprehensive picture was

extremely grim, said a senior faculty member of the hospital claiming that

`unreported cases were at least 10 times higher.' 

The upswing in the HIV positive number can be gauged from the fact that out

of 620 patients tested at the Sentinel surveillance centre at Lucknow during

the month of January and February in 2001, as many as 24 were found to be

positive, which in itself is a record of sorts. 

The HIV infection prevalence had suddenly shot up from 1998 onwards after

remaining static from 1994 to 1997, said Dr VK Shrivastava, professor in the

department of social and preventive medicine. He attributed the phenomenon to

better reporting. 

Interestingly, a comparison of AIDS cases region-wise in UP, undertaken by Dr

VK Tiwari from the same department, maintained that almost all regions and

districts were affected and were almost equally vulnerable. Lucknow region

tops with highest number of cases, while Faizabad, Rae Bareli, Basti and

Gorakhpur also record a high number. 

A study of 74 AIDS patients conducted at a referral hospital, undertaken by

Dr Tripathi and his colleagues some time ago for their clinical and

epidemiological features, come up with interesting findings. Out of the lot,

multiple unprotected heterosexual contact with commercial sex workers in

metropolitan cities, mainly Mumbai, was found to be a major risk factor in 82.1

percent cases, while 66.6 per cent women had acquired the infection from their

husbands . 

Surprisingly in the last nine years, not a singly case of IV drug abuse AIDS

case has been reported in the KGMC hospital despite much hype created over

the issue, Tripathi said. 

[Guest guest]

I am a recent entrant into the network and I am a social scientist in gender

and child issues have been reading with deep interest the discussion of the

various aspects. Many of the points raised have been excellent and thought

provoking.

I just thought that I would add my observations of the following comment

and give my perception of the gender implications of the data.The Health

care policy is quite directly linked with the Family Welfare Policy. One of

the prevention strategies in control of HIV/AIDS has been condom use. This

must be linked to the large number of tubectomies conducted today as against

small numbers of vasectomies. How can these women who have undergone

tubectomies ask their husbands/male partners who may have promiscuous

lifestyles to use a condom? In India there is little or no discussion

between partners regarding sex and sexuality so to make a demand for condom

use is rarely possible. These women who have undergone tubectomy operations

can be considered to be a very vulnerable section for whom no specific

strategy has been developed.

Negi

efnegi@...