HIV IN YOUTH, A 12-YEAR STUDY FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN INDIA

Abstract

HIV is the largest pandemic the world has seen in the last three decades with India as the third most affected country. The most common mode of HIV transmission is the heterosexual route, and the youth is the most vulnerable population for acquiring HIV infection. We analyzed 12 years data of the clients visiting our ICTC and calculated the HIV-positivity in various age groups, especially the youth (15-24 years). In 2011, as per the National HIV sentinel surveillance, the prevalence of HIV infection in India was 0.27%, whereas the 2013 ICTC data in our hospital shows HIV-positivity among the total clients and the youth to be 7.4% and 6.3% respectively. Over the past 12 years, a persistently high HIV-positivity in our ICTC reveals lack of awareness about prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth and the whole population at large, thus stressing upon the need for implementation of more effective HIV prevention programs, especially among the youth.