TITLE:
Changing HIV Epidemic in North-Eastern India and Its Relationship with Development and Programmatic Indicators
AUTHORS:
Chiranjeev Bhattacharjya, Sangram Kishor Patel, Samiran Panda, Alok Kr. Deb
KEYWORDS:
HIV, Epidemic, Program and Development Indicator, North-Eastern India
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.5 No.3,
September
25,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background:
Although there has been significant reduction in HIV prevalence and new HIV
infections in India, some of the low/moderate prevalence states have been
showing long term increase in HIV prevalence and new HIV infections. Assam, a
state in northeast India is one such low HIV prevalence state where HIV
prevalence and new HIV infections have almost doubled in the last few years.
This study examined the trend of HIV prevalence across districts/regions of
Assam and its association with developmental and program indicators. Materials
and Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis of secondary data from the
National AIDS Control Program, Census of India-2011, and District Level
Household and Facility Survey-3 was conducted. The time period covered under
the secondary data analysis was 2007 to 2012. Correlation and Chi-square for
trend tests were also used in this paper. Results: During 2007 and 2012, HIV
positivity (%) increased relatively in North Assam (46.9%) followed by South
Assam (11.5%) while there has been a relative decline in West Assam (﹣51.5%).
Correlation analysis showed statistically significant association between HIV
prevalence and female literacy, population using mobile phone, population using
internet, women (15 - 49 years) seeking treatment for any STI/RTI, proportion
of brothel based FSWs, FSWs having