Prevalence of HIV Infection and Profile of Persons Attending an Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre at a Private Rural Tertiary Care Hospital in Andhra Pradesh, India

• Published in: Indian journal of public health research and development. Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 227
• Main Authors: Sreedevi, S, Malathi, M S, Latha, M Madhavi, Saraswathi, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Institute of Medico-Legal Publications 2014
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Age; AIDS; Behavior; Counseling; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Education; Females; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Males; Manual workers; Rural areas; Studies
• ISSN: 0976-0245; 0976-5506
• DOI: 10.5958/j.0976-5506.5.1.051

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a global pandemic and now has grown into a public health problem of unprecedented magnitude. Estimating HIV prevalence can be helpful to plan and implement preventive strategies. Hence the study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among persons attending Integraded Counseling and Testing Centre, at Santhiram Medical College and General Hospital, Nandyal, Kurnool Dt ,A.P, over a period of one year (April 2010-march 2011).A total of 6286 study persons attended ICTC, either by self referral or following referral by health care provider. Out of 6286 blood samples tested, 139 samples found to be seropositive. Male to female ratio in HIV seropositive individuals was 3:2.Maximum seropositivity 33.8% was found in the age group of 35-44yrs, followed by 32.37% in 25-34 yrs age group. Heterosexual route (81.3%) was predominant route of transmission, parent to child route of transmission of HIV infection was 1.4%. Many attendees were daily wage workers (64.5%) and illiterates (64.8%). All seropositive persons were referred to a care and support programme. ICTCs at private rural hospitals should be encouraged so that people from such areas can access services to establish their HIV status.