Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

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A Study on HIV/AIDS Infection amongst Commercial Sex Workers


Affiliations
1 Dept of Community Medicine, Shri B M Patil, Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur, India
2 Dept of Forensic Medicine, Shri B M Patil, Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur, India
     

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Presently, the Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic still remains as the leading cause of deaths in terms of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). According to UNAIDS (2008), 33.4 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV; among them 31.3 million people are adults. Deaths due to HIV were 2.0 million (1). HIV infection is now almost equally distributed between men and women. Deaths in women have also increased, accounting for an estimated 46% of adult deaths (2). The vast majority of people living with HIV/AIDS are not aware that they are carrying the virus (3) India has the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. It has also been declared that at end of 2010 women account for 50%of all adults living with HIV worldwide(4). A significant increase in prevalence of HIV infection has been observed in female sex workers and patients attending STD clinics (5-6). Commercial Sex Workers (CSW) form one of the high risk groups for HIV and STD infections. The prevalence of HIV due to sexual transmission is now the main mode of transmission and has purported in all strata of community irrespective of urban and rural .Hence, it is quite necessary to assess the magnitude of HIV infection among CSW in the rural area of socio economically backward district of Bijapur.

Objectives:

• To assess the magnitude of HIV/AIDS infection among sex workers visiting the STD clinic.

• Socio demographic profile of CSWs

Material and Method Study Area: STD clinics run by NGOs in the villages of Bijapur Taluka. All the villages covered by selected NGOs were included in the study.

Participants: All the female commercial sex workers registered with selected NGOs were included in the study.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Sample size: 600 CSWs

Result: Overall Prevalence of HIV was found to be 9% among 6oo studied commercial sex workers (CSWs). The study subjects of younger age group i.e. 15-30 years and age more than 45 years had higher risk of having disease. Statistically association was found between HIV/AIDS and CSWs who were working in open area (field), Time of sex, doing profession in odd time and started sex selling less than one year, entertaining more than 5 partners per day and selling sex more than 15 days per month. So, they have more risk of acquiring HIV Infection.


Keywords

Commercial Sex workers, NGO, HIV/AIDS, Magnitude
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  • A Study on HIV/AIDS Infection amongst Commercial Sex Workers

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Authors

Vijaya M. Sorganvi
Dept of Community Medicine, Shri B M Patil, Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur, India
M. M. Angadi
Dept of Community Medicine, Shri B M Patil, Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur, India
U. C. Nuchhi
Dept of Forensic Medicine, Shri B M Patil, Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur, India
Rekha Udagiri
Dept of Community Medicine, Shri B M Patil, Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur, India

Abstract


Presently, the Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic still remains as the leading cause of deaths in terms of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). According to UNAIDS (2008), 33.4 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV; among them 31.3 million people are adults. Deaths due to HIV were 2.0 million (1). HIV infection is now almost equally distributed between men and women. Deaths in women have also increased, accounting for an estimated 46% of adult deaths (2). The vast majority of people living with HIV/AIDS are not aware that they are carrying the virus (3) India has the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. It has also been declared that at end of 2010 women account for 50%of all adults living with HIV worldwide(4). A significant increase in prevalence of HIV infection has been observed in female sex workers and patients attending STD clinics (5-6). Commercial Sex Workers (CSW) form one of the high risk groups for HIV and STD infections. The prevalence of HIV due to sexual transmission is now the main mode of transmission and has purported in all strata of community irrespective of urban and rural .Hence, it is quite necessary to assess the magnitude of HIV infection among CSW in the rural area of socio economically backward district of Bijapur.

Objectives:

• To assess the magnitude of HIV/AIDS infection among sex workers visiting the STD clinic.

• Socio demographic profile of CSWs

Material and Method Study Area: STD clinics run by NGOs in the villages of Bijapur Taluka. All the villages covered by selected NGOs were included in the study.

Participants: All the female commercial sex workers registered with selected NGOs were included in the study.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Sample size: 600 CSWs

Result: Overall Prevalence of HIV was found to be 9% among 6oo studied commercial sex workers (CSWs). The study subjects of younger age group i.e. 15-30 years and age more than 45 years had higher risk of having disease. Statistically association was found between HIV/AIDS and CSWs who were working in open area (field), Time of sex, doing profession in odd time and started sex selling less than one year, entertaining more than 5 partners per day and selling sex more than 15 days per month. So, they have more risk of acquiring HIV Infection.


Keywords


Commercial Sex workers, NGO, HIV/AIDS, Magnitude

References