AEGiS-11IAC: Sexual behaviour and HIV seroprevalence in unmarried females attending MTP/ANC clinic in Pune, India.

11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

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Sexual behaviour and HIV seroprevalence in unmarried females attending MTP/ANC clinic in Pune, India.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:486 (abstract no. Pub.D.1315)
Subramanian T, Bharucha KE, Manelkar RK, Risbud AR, Sukumaran K, Surve B, Gadkari DA; National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Maharashta, India.

OBJECTIVE: To study the behavioural pattern related to sexuality of unmarried females attending MTP/ANC clinics and to know their perception towards HIV/AIDS and HIV seroprevalence in them. Method: 100 unmarried females attending MTP/ANC clinics of Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, are being taken for this study. In-depth interviews are conducted using semi-structured interview schedule. Procedure of pre-test counselling and taking informed consent are followed for all the respondents, for testing their blood for HIV antibodies. Between 18 May 1995 and 31 Dec. 1995, 90 respondents have been enrolled. This study is being continued till the end of January 1996.

RESULTS: Out of the 90 respondents 59 were from MTP clinic & 31 from ANC clinic; 48% were from rural areas. 42% were minors (under age 18) and 50% were between 18-20 yrs. 37% were illiterates; 45% were unemployed and 11% were students. Among the employed, most of them (94%) were either domestic mAIDS or doing agricultural work. In all, 48% had some problem in their family like absence of single or both parents, either of the parents being alcoholic or separated, etc. 87% had sexual relationships with single partners and 10% with multiple partners. 28% had sexual contacts with neighbours; 40% with friends/known persons, 17% with relatives including paternal uncle/parallel cousins and 4% with employer/co-worker. In these partners, 24% were married & for 14%, the females had "no idea" about their marital status. Out of the 9 females who had multi-partner sex (no. of partners ranging 2-5), 2 were getting money (Rs 25 - Rs 200) for a particular period from their partners. As regards to sexual behaviour, 74% had vaginal, 14% oral or anal, and vaginal, and 6%, oral, anal and vaginal intercourse (most of them had multi-partner sex). In all, 23% and 25% had mentioned that they have heard of condoms and HIV/AIDS, respectively. Regarding HIV seroprevalence, 3 females (with age 20-23 yrs. single partner relationship) were positive by ELISA and Western Blot.

CONCLUSION: Influence of adolescence and sexual curiosity and low socio-economic background contributes to premarital sex. Most of them did not know about condom or HIV/AIDS. Seropositives are from single-partner sexual relationships.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Seroprevalence, Single Person, Sexual Partners, Condoms, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV, Students, HIV-1, Data Collection, HIV Seropositivity, India, Human, Female, ICA11KWDaegis,hivseroprevalence,singleperson,sexualpartners,condoms,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,hiv,students,hiv-1,datacollection,hivseropositivity,india,human,female,ica11

960707
PubD1315

Copyright © 1996 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.