HIV prevalence in Assam below tiol average

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 4: The CO HIV estimates 2015 and CO Technical Report 2015 reports state that Assam is categorized as a low-HIV prevalence state with an adult HIV prevalence of 0.06 per cent against the tiol prevalence of 0.26 per cent.

However, the reports also state that adult HIV prevalence in the state has increased from 0.04 per cent in 2007 to 0.06 per cent in 2015 with 928 new HIV infections in 2015.

Assam being the gateway to northeastern States and it being surrounded by three high HIV prevalence states like Manipur, Mizoram and galand are the prime reasons that came to light which cite Assam as a highly vulnerable state in HIV transmission, the report said. It is also viewed that a large number of young population from Assam go to large cities for employment and a large number of female migrants from other northeastern states, West Bengal, Nepal come to Assam for employment and education and get involved in high risk behaviour which also makes Assam a highly vulnerable state in HIV transmission.

HIV epidemic in the state is concentrated among the high risk group populations of female sex workers at 0.46 per cent, men having sex with men at 1.40 per cent and injecting drug users at 1.46 per cent.

Moreover, according to UIDS Fact sheets November 2016 reports at the end of 2015 globally there was an estimated 36.7 million people living with HIV. 2.1 million people became newly infected and 1.1 million people died of AIDS related illness. The reports also show new HIV infections among children have declined by 50 per cent.