HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

© UNICEF India

Living with aids is not so bleak as most people fear.

The first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in India in Tamil Nadu in 1986. Since then the virus has spread from the high-risk groups to the general population very fast. Today, there are 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS in India.

Women and Children
Women and children are increasingly becoming vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. The new findings conclude that 38% of the infected persons in India are women. This indicates the increasing feminization of HIV/AIDS in India. This alarming trend is being observed closely as more HIV positive mothers will unknowingly pass the virus on to their children.

India has an estimated 220,000 children infected by HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that 55,000 to 60,000 children are born every year to mothers who are HIV positive. Without treatment, these newborns stand an estimated 30% chance of becoming infected during the mother’s pregnancy, labor or through breastfeeding after six months. There is effective treatment available, but this is not reaching all women and children who need it.

Young People
Over 35% of AIDS cases reported are below 25 years of age and 50% of new infections are between 15 and 24 years old. The current HIV/AIDS programmes are reaching only 15% of young people and 17% of high-risk groups such as sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users. Less than one quarter of young people have accurate information on how to protect themselves from HIV which, coupled with profound gender inequalities, make change in sexual attitudes and practices very difficult. It is estimated that there are 200 million young people in high prevalence and vulnerable districts who need access to information, skills and services to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection.