World Issues Group Project

Rise in AIDS in Asia – Case Study: India

Causes

1. Prostitutes infect clients and vice versa

- India’s first cases of HIV in 1986 were diagnosed among sex workers in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu. It was noted that contact with foreign visitors had played a role in
initial infections among sex workers
- There is an estimated 2 million of them distributed over 817 red-light areas all
over India. This is exclusive of those who operate from their homes or hotels.
- Many lack access to health services (screening, counselling)
- From 1989-1991, it is estimated that the level of HIV infection escalated from 1%
to 30% among sex workers in Mumbai.
- A study revealed that only 20% of sex workers had always used condoms with
commercial customers.
- A survey in 2001 shows that a female sex worker will have an average of 11
clients and brothel based sex worker have significantly higher number of clients

2. Injecting drug addicts spread HIV through sharing of needles

- Use of drugs is spreading among students, industrial workers, truck drivers and
people living in slums
- According to official estimates, there are approximately 200,000 IDUs in India,
- survey found that 60% of 3,300 injection drug users in 10 cities and towns in the
northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana shared needles and syringes
- In the Punjab city of Ludhiana, HIV prevalence among IDUs is about 21%
- Many are sexually active, resulting in the infection being passed to their partners,
as they do not know that they are infected
3. Migrant Workers
- 22 % of people in India are migrants
- Studies from across the world have linked migration to multiple sexual partners
and increased HIV transmission
- Long working hours, isolation from their family and movement between areas
may increase the likelihood that an individual will become involved in casual
sexual relationships, which in turn increases the risk of HIV transmission.
4. Lack of education
- “My husband is a truck driver and I got HIV through him. I had never heard of HIV
or condoms before that and because I can't read, I couldn't understand any of the
posters or banners.”
- Being a third-world country with one of the highest levels of poverty, access to
information is extremely limited. Thus many are unaware of the spread of HIV
and AIDS.
Effects

1. AIDS has spread into the general population

- The epidemic has followed the 'type 4' pattern. This is where new infections occur
first among the most vulnerable populations (such as injecting drug users and
female sex workers), then spread to 'bridge' populations (clients of sex workers
and sexual partners of drug users) and then finally enter the general population.
- As can be seen from the case of truck drivers in India, many truck drivers got
infected with HIV due to contact with sexual worker
- Infected truckers in turn infect their wives and family when they return back home

2. Deadly Cycle
- Pregnant mothers infect their new-born children
- India is home to the largest number of AIDS orphans in the world (UN statistics)
- Besides the emotional trauma of losing their parents, they face the following
risks:
 Social Exclusion
 Illiteracy, malnutrition, exploitation, extreme poverty
 Contracting STDs, facing sexual abuse and drug use, with many young girls
turning to prostitution to survive
- These children grow up with a lack of education, and face a higher risk of turning
to prostitution and drugs. Hence spreading the virus further, giving rise to the
deadly cycle

3. Victims face severe discrimination

- Sacked from jobs, disowned by families, rejected by friends and communities,
refused treatment by doctors, turned down by schools, colleges, universities, and
sometimes even get imprisoned and humiliated
- There have been many cases where HIV positive victims commit suicide

4. The economy deteriorates further

- India already has wide-spread poverty
- It could claim up to half of the national expenditure for health if the needs of AIDS
patients were to be met fully
- Increased patients means a decreased working population, thus economy falls
- Aids claims the lives of those in their socially and economically most productive
ages, many who are responsible for the support and care of others
- Leaves family without any source of livelihood
References

http://www.avert.org/aidsindia.htm

http://www.crossroadsinternational.org/news/aids-orphans-in-india.html

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/india_statistics.html

http://www.azadindia.org/social-issues/aids-in-india.html

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/SOUTHASIAEXT/Resources/Publications/448813-
1155152122224/southasia_aids_chapter4.pdf