Sexual Behavior and Practice Assessment of Truckers and Migrants as an Evaluation of Targeted Interventions (TI) Project for HIV Prevention and Control, Himachal Pradesh, India

Sexual behavior trucker and migrant play an important role in disease spread as engagement with female sexual worker (FSW). Data is limited about sexual behavior and practice of trucker and migrant population and vital to understand the HIV epidemic in India. Present study was done as an evaluation of TI efforts in Himachal Pradesh to document sexual behavior and practice among truckers and migrants.

Total 5 TI sites for trucker and 3 for migrants was evaluated, sample of 100 respondents (500 trucker; 300 migrant) were interviewed. The samples for migrant population were completed construction sites and proportionally from each truck union for trucker. Respondents were interviewed consecutively till the number was completed. For truckers, the sample was completed.

Stakeholders were aware about sexual (73.1%), blood (69.4%), and injection (60.6%) as common mode of transmission for HIV and observed significantly (p=0.00) more among truckers than migrants. About 51.4% stakeholders had sexual contact within last one month and significantly (p=0.00) more among truckers (55.6%) than migrants (44.3%) and half of them had with wife or husband. Only 41.6% reported intercourse without condom. STI knowledge and awareness level was observed less for STIs as and significantly less among migrants than truckers.

Project staff interacted with the stakeholders and spread the HIV awareness. However, knowledge about STI was low in both trucker and migrants. Overall HIV knowledge and safe sexual practice was significantly more (p=0.00) among truckers than in migrants.