Seroprevalence Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 1 And 2 Infections In A Tertiary Care Hospital

摘要

Context: India is one of the largest and the most populated countries in the world, with over one billion inhabitants. Karnataka, a diverse state in the south west of India, has a population of around 53 million people. The districts with the highest prevalence of HIV infections tend to be located in northern Karnataka, which is known as the ?Devadasi belt?. Many women from this part of the country are supplied to the sex trade in big cities such as Mumbai. Aim: The present study was done to know the seroprevalence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which is the causative agent of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Materials and Methods: Ten thousand seven hundred and sixty one (10761) blood samples were screened for the presence of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies by using a TRI DOT kit and third generation ELISA from August 2008 to July 2010. Results and conclusions: Out of the 10761 samples screened, antibodies to HIV-1 were present in 525 (4.9%) patients, of which 307 (58.5%) were males and 218 (41.5%) were females. No HIV-2 case was detected. The prevalence of the viral infection also varied with age, the highest prevalence rate being 262 (50%) as recorded in the age group of 21-40 years, while the age group of 1-20 years had the lowest percentage positivity with a prevalence rate of 42 (8%). The findings of this study emphasize the more urgent need for interventional measures like sex education and health and preventive education among the general population.