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Changing attitudes to HIV

A survey on HIV risk behaviour carried out in Tamil Nadu and Puduchery in October-December 2006 by the Chennai-based AIDS Prevention and Control project has revealed some bright as well as negative trends. One important finding is that awareness of at least two modes of HIV transmission has increased over the years among the high-risk category. On the flip side, the percentage of people labouring under misconceptions has risen steadily. That misconceptions abound in a Stat e like Tamil Nadu, a frontrunner in HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, is cause for wider concern. While unscientific notions on prevention are common, advertisements promising cures have done much damage. There is an urgent need to enforce the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act of 1955 to deter such fraudulent advertisements. Though the use of a prophylactic shows an increase among high-risk groups, particularly female sex workers, its use by regular clients has dropped on account of misconceptions.

The survey brings out the need to step up awareness-building efforts targeting particularly those sections of the younger population that are ignorant and have a greater risk-taking attitude. The increase in the number of sexually active people makes it imperative to create awareness on a continual basis. The 2006 national campaign, aimed at promoting voluntary HIV testing, seems to have paid off for most high-risk groups. Awareness of one’s HIV status resulted in infected people seeking early medical intervention. The downside has been that the confirmation of HIV negative status led to low-risk perception, and hence a drop in the use of prophylactics. The really encouraging attitudinal trend is the declining levels of stigma faced by high-risk individuals within their communities. The heartening experience of Brazil has shown that with the availability of assured free treatment, willingness to get tested increases and attitudes of stigma and discrimination weaken in society. Similar trends witnessed recently in India should prompt the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) not to wait until the 100,000 target is reached by the end of 2007 before making expensive second-line drugs available to the 3000-5000 patients who have become resistant to existing drugs.

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