Socio-demographic Characteristics of Clients Visiting Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) at SMS Medical College, Jaipur (Rajasthan) India
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global pandemic and India counts for 10% of the global HIV burden and 65% of that in the South and South-East Asia. This study of clients of ICTC was carried out to know the association of HIV positivity with socio-demographic variables. Total 2412 clients have visited at ICTC of SMS Medical College, Jaipur, either voluntarily or referred by various department of this institute in ICTC in 1st quarter of 2009. They Overall HIV positivity was found 12.35% with a significant difference in voluntary and referred clients i.e. 83.59% v/s 8.36%. It was also found that HIV positivity is more in reproductive age group than extremes of ages, more in females than males, more in person who were married but presently single because of separation of spouse, divorce form spouse or death of spouse than the unmarried or married living with their spouses.
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Introduction
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global pandemic and according to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic update, December 2007 approximately 33.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.1 The prevalence rate of HIV in adults varies in different regions from 5% in the Sub-Saharan Africa to 0.3% in Middle East. 1 It is estimated that 90% of the HIV-infected persons live in the developing countries with the estimated number of Indians being 2.7 million.2 All countries in the South East Asia are deeply concerned regarding the HIV epidemic and responding their best. 3 Overall prevalence of HIV in adults in India is 0.36% which accounts for 10% of the global HIV burden and 65% of that in the South and South-East Asia.4 Migration of labor, low literacy levels, gender disparities, and prevalent RTI/STI have contributed to this spread. 5
An individual who is infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) will not develop the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) immediately. The time lag between infection and manifestation of signs and symptoms of AIDS is approximately 5–7 years. It is important that an individual who is HIV-infected is aware of his/her status as otherwise he/she could unknowingly transmit the virus to others. The only way to diagnose the presence of HIV and get timely treatment is through a simple blood test.
Conclusion
About one eighth of the ICTC attendees had HIV positivity. This HIV positivity is more in reproductive age group than extremes of ages, more in females than males, more in person who were married but presently single because of separation of spouse, divorce form spouse or death of spouse than the unmarried or married living with their spouses. Among all the attendees voluntary were only 5.3% who has maximum HIV positivity (83.59%). So voluntary HIV testing should be increase.