Kanpur: Gutka factor in HIV risk

[Guest guest]

Dear group member,

In a recent study conducted by WIZMIN Kanpur, in Lalitpur district,

covering 29 villages and three urban units, it was found that though

the number of sex workers in the district is very small, the sex

work is wide spread. Sex work by " common girls and women " poses much

greater risk than the CSWs. Adolescent girls and young adult women

belonging to lower classes accept sex work so that they can chew

gutka.

To this our investigators jokingly called the " gutka factor

in HIV risk. " Common adolescent girls are consuming four-five

pouches of gutka everyday and for this and for cheap ornaments,

bras, good clothes, and lipstick etc. they engage in sex work.

Same is the case with adult women belonging to lower classes that they

occasionally supplement their wage income by involving in sex.

A combination of poverty, migration, consumerism, increasing

permissiveness and increasing addiction among the adults has wiped

out the distinction between high risk and low risk populations.

Also there are misconceptions about condoms and it appears that the

only time they are used is during the menstruation period. People

think that use of condom can lead to serious illness for which one

can be treated only in the District hospital and one has to spend

lot of money. All this shows that there is an urgent need for

information campaign.

A. K Sharma, Professor IIT Kanpur

Rita Singh, WIZMIN

e-mail: <aksharma151253@...>