1Lecturer (Statistics), Dept of Community Medicine, BLDEU, Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur
2Professor & Head, Dept of Community Medicine, BLDEU, Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur
3Associate Professor, Dept of Forensic Medicine, BLDEU, Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur
4Professor, Dept of Community Medicine, BLDEU, Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bijapur
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.
To assess the magnitude of HIV/AIDS infection among sex workers visiting the STD clinic. Socio demographic profile of CSWs
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.
Commercial Sex workers, NGO, HIV/AIDS, Magnitude