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.