Marissa Becker|B M Ramesh|Reynold Washington|Shiva S. Halli|James Blanchard|Stephen Moses
Prevalence and determinants of HIV infection in South India: a heterogeneous, rural epidemic
University of Manitoba|University of Manitoba|St.John's Medical College Hospital|University of Manitoba|University of Manitoba|University of Manitoba
assess prevalence determinants hiv infection general population bagalkot district largely rural district southern indian state karnatakaapproximately 6700 individuals aged 1549 years randomly sampled 10 villages six towns three bagalkots six subdistricts consenting respondent administered questionnaire followed blood collection testing hiv syphilis herpes simplex virus type 2 hsv2 25 subsamplehiv prevalence 29 overall 24 urban areas 36 rural areas odds ratio 065 95 confidence interval ci 045095 significant differences hiv prevalence seen three subdistricts prevalences 11 30 64 p 005 hiv prevalence 10 villages ranged 0 82 reported multiple sexual partners receiving money sex history medical injections significantly associated hiv infection older age widowed divorced separated deserted lower education levels woman lower caste strong association hsv2 hiv infection 52 95 ci 23115the rural nature epidemic important implications prevention care programs striking differentials observed hiv prevalence subdistricts even villages suggest risk vulnerability hiv highly heterogeneous research required understand individual communitylevel factors behind differentials preventive interventions directed needed