HIV in India David S. Hausner American Embassy School 8 th Grade Population Project 24 February 2012

HIVAIDS HIV versus AIDS HIV is the virus that causes HIV infection which can lead to AIDS. A person can look and feel healthy even if they have HIV. A person with HIV can pass the virus to others. HIV weakens the body’s ability to fight infection, making a person very sick. This is called AIDS. It can take years for a person infected with HIV to develop AIDS A person with AIDS can still pass HIV to others.

HIV is spread: by unprotected sexual contact with an infected person by sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily for drug injection) with someone who is infected by reusing medical instruments that are in contact with body fluids among multiple patients Through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding after birth.

HIV is passed through the following BODY FLUIDS: SEMEN BLOOD VAGINAL FLUID BREAST MILK

HIV is not like a cold… You can’t just “catch it”

How HIV is not transmitted Closed-mouth or "social" kissing Through insects Contact with saliva, tears, or sweat Hugging, shaking hands, sharing households, sharing kitchen utensils and dishes Bathing, sharing sport equipment

Some global facts There are estimated to be 34 million people living with HIV in the world – about 0.5% of the world's living population AIDS has killed more than 30 million people Sub-Saharan remains the most affected region in the world. India is the country with the third highest number of people living with HIV in the world – 2.4 million

What caused the epidemic to spread so suddenly? Travel and Migration. Both national and international travel undoubtedly had a major role in the initial spread of HIV. The Blood Industry. Invention of syringes in 1848, blood transfusions became a routine part of medical practice. Drug Use. The 1970s saw an increase in the availability of heroin following the Vietnam War and other conflicts in the Middle East

Stages of HIV epidemic Initial – few cases of HIV, mainly among people that practice more risky behaviors. HIV infection in each high risk group is less than 5%. Concentrated- infection is rapidly spreading among high risk groups. HIV infection in those groups is 5% and more. HIV infection among general population is less than 1%. Generalized –HIV infection among general population is more than 1%.

HIV in India: The Problem

Proportion of people in a population who HAVE a disease or infection during a given time period Prevalence Incidence Proportion of NEW people in a population who GET a disease or infection during a given time period

Source: NACO Annual Report,

HIV prevalence in India by State Source: mapsofindia.com

Source: UNGASS Country Progress Report – India, 2010 HIV Prevalence in India by district

Source: UNGASS Country Progress Report – India, 2010

MSM IDU FSW STD ANC Source: UNGASS Country Progress Report – India, 2010

HIV in India: Trying to solve the problem

Approximate total budget of $ 2.5 Billion over 5 years Source: UNGASS Country Progress Report – India, 2010

HIV Prevention

Harm or Risk Reduction Understand why people engage in risky behaviors Provide a combination of services to address those reasons –Improve knowledge –Provide tools –Teach skills –Change behavior Target people with services they need

HIV Prevention Tools

Sex Workers Educate –HIV risk –How to use condoms Teach skills –To do other work –To negotiate with clients to use condoms Provide tools –Condoms

Injection Drug Users Educate –HIV risk –How to sterilize needles and syringes –How to use needle exchange Provide drug treatment Teach skills –Job training Provide Tools –Needle and syringe exchange –Condoms

Tools are not enough!

HIV Care, Support, and Treatment

Antiretroviral Therapy More than 300 ART centers More than 400,000 PLHIV getting ART But this is less than half of the people who need treatment

Counseling and Testing Before people can get ART, they have to be diagnosed with HIV infection. More than 5,000 centers for counseling and testing

TB and HIV About one third of PLHIV who are not treated will die of TB. TB is also infectious and is becoming resistant to medicines It is important to find people with both TB and HIV and provide treatment

Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Infection Mothers who are HIV infected can pass HIV to their unborn and newborn babies during labor and delivery and during breastfeeding Pregnant women who are HIV infected need ART and education about how to feed their babies.

Orphaned Children Approximately 150,000 children infected with HIV Approximately 1.5 million children orphaned by HIV Approximately 7 million children living with HIV positive parents Care and support programs are needed for these children

Conclusion India is the country with the third highest number of people with HIV The HIV epidemic in India is concentrated in high risk groups The Indian government and international donors have invested significant funding to prevent HIV and treat people with AIDS There is still much more work that needs to be done to reduce the impact of HIV in India.

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