Publication:

HIV/AIDS prevention among high-risk group and bridge population: awareness, perception and practices in five states of India

Background India has one of the highest burdens of HIV in the world with heterosexual transmission accounting for the majority of HIV infections. Bridge population and high-risk group population are most vulnerable to infection and preventing transmission among these groups is the cornerstone to HIV/AIDS elimination.

Methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, perception and practices regarding HIV/AIDS and its prevention among female sex workers (high-risk group) and long-distance truckers and migrants (bridge population) in five states in India.

Results A total of 366 individuals (98 female sex workers, 146 long distance truckers and 122 migrants) participated in the study. There was considerable misconception among study participants regarding HIV transmission, with 27.3% (95% CI 22.8%-31.9%), 30.6% (95% CI 25.9%-35.3%), 22.4% (95% CI 18.1%-26.7%) and 26.2% (95% CI 21.7%-30.7%) participants responding that HIV is transmitted through sharing meals, room, clothes and toilet facilities with an infected person, respectively. Consistent condom use was practiced by 67.3% (95% CI 58.1%-76.6%) female sex workers, 30.2% (95% CI 22.7%-37.6%) truckers and 30.3% (95% CI 22.2%-38.5%) migrants. Only 54.1% (95% CI 46.0%-62.2%) truckers were willing to get tested for HIV on a regular basis as opposed to 80.6% (95% CI 72.8%-88.4%) female sex workers and 70.5% (95% CI 62.4%-78.6%) migrants.

Conclusions Our study highlights a need for awareness generation regarding HIV transmission among high-risk groups and bridge populations which is necessary to achieve targets of HIV/AIDS elimination in India.