Study shows decline in HIV incidence in high-risk groups

The relative risk of HIV infection decreased by approximately 80 per cent among male patients with STIs and by 70 per cent among FEW during the ten-year study period.

Dr Mehendale told The Indian Express that the aim was to study how many persons who were negative at the beginning of the study became HIV positive (this is called seroconversion or a new case of HIV infection. Incidence is calculated by taking the number of persons who become positive during the follow up study).

Between 1993 and 2002, 14,147 patients attending the STI clinics were screened for HIV, of whom 3,185 (22.5 per cent) were HIV infected. A total of 3,268 individuals not infected with HIV participated in the study. In all, 274 seroconversions (new HIV infections) were identified over a period of 10 years.

The finding of declining HIV rates among high-risk men and FSWs is not just good news for Pune, but results are important because they indicate that significant decline in HIV infection rates can be achieved in high-risk individuals in the country, Mehendale pointed out.

National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) scientists have in their study published in the August issue of the US-based Journal of AIDS said that this was the first direct evidence of a decline in HIV incidence rates in female sex workers (FSWs) and male patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) over time in the country.

Interventions like the extensive counselling employed at our site for risk reduction in behaviour, condom promotion, and aggressive management of sexually transmitted diseases have led to this decline, the NARI scientist said.

An area of concern was identified as the lack of change in the risk of HIV infection among the non- FSWs. There is a need for additional targeted HIV prevention interventions, said Mehendale.