An observational study of the pattern of HIV infection in a specified rural area of India with special reference to migratory laborers.

OBJECTIVE: Determination of the pattern of HIV/AIDS in patients attending voluntary confidential counseling and testing center (VCCTC) and prevention of parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT) center of a low-prevalence district of Eastern India. To find out high-risk group and interventional strategy for prevention.

METHOD: Cross-sectional exploratory secondary data analysis from the VCCTC and PPTCT register.

RESULT: Of the 1348 participants, 160 (11.86%) adults were HIV seropositive. Prevalence in males and females was 9.8% and 20.7%, respectively. Among 22 (1.63%) seropositive children, transmission was vertical in 18 (81.8%). Seventy-one (88.75%) positive adult males were migratory goldsmiths working in Mumbai and other big cities. They were clustered in a particular locality (Daspur).

CONCLUSION: Goldsmiths migrated from Daspur to big cities are the bridge populations who are responsible for higher prevalence of HIV in their families and locality. Interventional strategies targeted at this high-risk group are suggested.