PANJIM, SEP 7
Even as there has been a greater awareness about HIV/AIDS now, infection through sexual mode remains predominantly high due to lack of “behavioural change” on the part of targeted population in the State.
While Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) has been able to contain HIV infection happening through other sources, it has not been able to cut down on infections caused via sexual route.
From 1999 to 2009 sexual route remained major mode of transmission in the range of 83 to 96 per cent followed by pre-natal (mother-to-child) 4 to 7.6 per cent whereas infection via blood, blood products , injected syringes and needles has been almost zero.
Speaking to Herald Dr Pradeep Padwal, Project Director of GSACS, said despite of sustained awareness about dangers of having “unprotected sex” — there has not been drop in HIV infections happening through sexual mode for want of behavioural change.
Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) too feel people just don’t listen. Sanjay Naik, Project Manager for Community Resource Foundation (CRF), an NGO working among migrant workers, truck drivers and pilots says, even educated people especially youth prefer to indulge in unprotected sex.
“We have interacted with many college students in the city and found that having knowledge about how one gets HIV infection, has not deterred them from indulging in protected sex, “ says Naik.
Statistics compiled by GSACA says 87 per cent cases detected in the State are in the age group of 15-49. Nearly half of the females infected belong to the age group 15-43 whereas percentage of males infected in this age group is little higher than females.
Since 1987 about 13120 HIV cases has been detected whereas the estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS 16000 and reported AIDS death till June 2010 has been 724.
Sexual mode of transmission remains high also because of social discrimination and poverty. Many cases of wives getting infection from their husbands have come to light.
“Recently, we dealt with a case from Ponda. The wife got HIV infection from husband who worked as a driver for KTC. She was literally thrown out of the house by her in-laws after their son died of AIDS. She has gone into depression now,” told Naik.
While NGOs working for GSACS are doing their best to create awareness among sex workers about “dangers of unprotected sex” by providing them with condoms, there’s no guarantee that their advise will be followed.
“A sex worker will not think twice if a customer offers her more money for unprotected sex — she will trade her safety because she is into business for livelihood, “ pointed out Naik further that adding many sex workers in the commercial city are carriers of HIV .
“They are patronised not only by the migrant labourers but also by locals. ” Experience of Sagar Devidas, Project Manager for Mineral Foundation, NGO working for migrants engaged in the mining activities in Sanguem and Quepem, has been somewhat different. He feels it is an uphill task to get labourers to listen them . Labourers are averse to listening to counselling for fear of losing daily wages. “ They live a hand-to-mouth existence and it’s not easy to get them to the centre for awareness on working days whereas all facilities are closed on Sundays,” says Devidas.
Want of facilities for treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) is also a contributory factor in high incidence of infections through sexual mode.
“Workers in my areas (Sanguem and Quepem) need to visit either Hospicio in Margao or Usgao Centre Hospital if they want to avail of STDs facilities. Most of them don’t due to long distance,” he pointed out.
As per Sentinel Surveillance Survey 2008, HIV prevalence rate amongst STD patients was 4.80 per cent.
