Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV attacks the body’s immune system. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS. (Representational image/Express photo)
A study by Pune-based Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Translational Virology and AIDS Research (formerly NARI) and Mizoram University has highlighted how HIV self-testing has helped many young people in Mizoram get tested for the first time. The state has the highest HIV prevalence in the country.
“This innovative approach empowers vulnerable youth by providing a private, convenient, and stigma-free way to know their status,” study co-author Dr Samiran Panda, former Additional Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, told The Indian Express.
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Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV attacks the body’s immune system. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS, a debilitating and deadly disease. However, modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens can help people living with HIV live long and healthy lives. The virus is transmitted via contact with infected body fluids, often through sexual contact or contaminated needles (for blood transfusions, injecting drugs).
HIV burden in Mizoram
An estimated 25.44 lakh people live with HIV in India.
Among all states, Mizoram has the highest prevalence of HIV in the adult population. According to Sankalak (2024), the flagship publication of the National AIDS Control Programme, 2.73% of all adults in the state are infected with HIV — 13 times the national average. Nagaland (1.37%), Manipur (0.87%), Andhra Pradesh (0.62%), and Telangana (0.44%) complete the list of the five states with the highest HIV burden in the adult population.
According to the National AIDS Control Organisation’s ‘HIV Sentinel Surveillance Technical Brief 2016-17’, 19.8% of individuals in Mizoram who inject drugs were infected with HIV, as were 24.7% of female sex workers — also highest in the country.
“In Mizoram… the high prevalence among high risk groups points to an epidemic largely fuelled by injecting drug behavior but also supported through commercial exchange of sex,” the technical brief said.
The study & HIV self-testing
Mizoram witnessed an uptick in annual new HIV infections in 2017/2018, following which Pune-based ICMR-NITVAR planned a series of focussed investigations and “rapid situation and response assessments”, aiming to draw upon community voices. The latest study was one such assessment planned.
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“The aim was also to investigate the potential of HIV self-test to reach individuals who otherwise might not access testing or anti-retroviral therapy,” study lead author Dr Amrita Rao, Scientist D, Division of Clinical Sciences, ICMR- NITVAR , Pune told The Indian Express.
HIV self-testing is a process in which individuals collect their blood and saliva specimens, and themselves interpret the results using a test kit. Such self-testing has been adopted by nearly 41 countries ever since the World Health Organization in 2016 released guidelines for the same. India is yet to introduce guidelines.
This is why, beyond simply making available self-test kits, the study looked at how implementation of a self-testing program may be done. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with HIV program officials, religious leaders, community influencers, youths, and key population groups. Information gathered here guided strategic communication, community engagement, and the delivery of HIV self-test kits. Specifically, linkages were established with community-based organisations, church-based youth associations, college festivals, outreach sites at street corners, pharmacies, and community events.
First-time testers come forward
Published on February 5 in the journal Frontiers of Public Health, the study reported that some 2,101 youths in Aizawl came forward to take HIV tests in the six months when strategised HIV self-testing was implemented. As many as 1,772 of these (or 84%) were first-time testers.
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A high proportion (85%) of youths aged 18-24 years who tested positive in the self-tests went on to take confirmatory tests, and were linked with ART.
“This highlights the appropriateness of the innovative intervention as compared to traditional awareness campaigns,” Dr Panda said. Early HIV testing plays an important role in early HIV detection followed by treatment, if necessary. “We realised that HIV self-testing played an essential role as a screening test,” Dr Rao added.
The study says that this model is replicable in other states as well.
Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues .
Professional Background
Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature.
Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO.
Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives.
Awards and Recognition
Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.”
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
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2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series)
Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs.
"For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune.
3. Lifestyle & Wellness News
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4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure
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Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership
Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions.
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