Malhotra S, Sharma S, Hans C
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus) infections are being reported worldwide, with 33.3 million affected population overall and estimated 23.9 lacs people in India at the end of 2009. There has been reduction in HIV prevalence and HIV incidence in India. HIV prevalence has declined from 0.41% in 2000 to 0.31% in 2009 and new cases have declined by 56% over the past decade from 2.7 lacs new infections in 2000 to 1.2 lacs in 2009. The aim of the present study was to determine the HIV prevalence among persons reporting to ICTC (Integrated counceling and testing centre for HIV) from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013 in a tertiary care hospital in North India. All persons reported (excluding pregnant females) were provided pre- and post-test counseling, which included awareness about safe sexual practices, drug abuse blood transfusion, HIV and its modes of transmission etc. and written consent was taken for performing test. Antibody testing was done using rapid kits and declared reactive as per National AIDS control organization (NACO) guidelines strategy III. Among 53091 serum samples tested, 3341 (6.3%) were positive for HIV antibody. The number of clients increased in each year, with decrease in the overall seropositivity. Maximum sero-reactivity was found in 35–49 years age group (39.1%) followed by 25-34 years age (34.3%) and male : female ratio was 2.12:1. The route of transmission was heterosexual in 2858 (85.8%) cases. Among discordant couples, the prevalence of HIV in males was 78.4% in our centre. In conclusion, the HIV prevalence was in declining trend in 5 years, indicating the effectiveness of NACP – III (National AIDS control program) interventional programs. ICTC data can be important tool for planning and improving the national HIV/AIDS intervention strategy.
