HYDERABAD: HIV infection among commercial sex workers in the State is down, while condom usage has risen as a result of various interventions. However, Andhra Pradesh has the dubious distinction of having highest prevalence of the virus in the country.

Speaking at a national conference on `health, population and social development in Southern States' here on Tuesday, the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society director Ashok Kumar said condom usage had increased from 18 per cent to 80-90 per cent among the commercial sex workers. He said one of the biggest problems confronting policy-makers was the lack of behavioural change in spite of awareness about the risks.

High prevalence of non-regular sex partners and sexually-transmitted infections, large migrant population, trafficking of girls, high rate of tubectomy and hysterectomy and a booming IT/BPO sector were some of factors.

On the recent initiatives to prevent/control HIV/AIDS, Mr. Ashok Kumar said four more anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres would be opened by the month-end. Referring to `0/7 campaign' with the objective of ensuring birth of no HIV positive child, he said it was achievable if there was convergence among various agencies.

Kerala Health Secretary Vishwas Mehta said that State was highly vulnerable to HIV. Influx of migrants from neighbouring States was one of the problem areas. Outlining the interventions to control HIV, M. Jagdeesan, consultant, Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society, said the State was moving towards containing the epidemic.

H.T. Balakrishna, Deputy Director, Karnataka AIDS Prevention Society, said the stigma involved, migrant population, lack of awareness and poor accessibility of services were challenges which needed to be addressed.

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