14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain — July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12;14:Abstract No. E11401

BACKGROUND: AIDS continued to spread alarmingly in India and posing a major public health threat. The rate of HIV infection in India is not only high but keeping the large population in view the number of HIV infected persons is estimated highest in country. The epidemic continues to shift towards women and young people with an accompanying increase in vertical transmission and pediatric HIV. Women are at higher risk due to biological and social vulnerability. The high incidence of RTI/STDs also indicates the potential for rapid and extensive spread of the HIV epidemic, especially among women. The low socio-economic status of females in country is responsible for their poor knowledge about RTIs, STIs and HIV/AIDS.

METHODS: Here, an attempt has been made to understand the gender differentials in the extent of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its correlates. RCH-RHS survey data has been used for the analysis; the information has collected from currently married females aged (15-44) and males (20-54) on the awareness, sources of information, mode of transmission, miss-conceptions and perception about curability of HIV/AIDS.

RESULTS: The study brought out interesting findings; the awareness of HIV/AIDS among males and females varies by their background characteristics. Electronic media and Relatives/Friends are the main sources of information, the knowledge regarding modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS varies across the different level of SLI and education. Rural people are more likely to have misconception regarding the transmission.

CONCLUSIONS: The females in general and males from lower standard of living have less knowledge about the preventive measures of HIV/AIDS.

Presenting author: Ravendra Sharma

1International Institute for Population Sciences, Govandi Station Road, Deonar, Mumbai- 400 088, India.

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