Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Demographic Profile of HIV Sero Positive Clients Attending Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre, Mumbai, India

Abstract

Nayana Ingole, Supriya Paranjpe, Purva Sarkate, Ujwala Kawane, Mukti Mody, Sameer Shinde and Preeti Mehta

Introduction: HIV testing and counseling is associated with reduction in risk behavior. Not all persons who receive pretest counseling and testing return for posttest counseling. Hence, it is imperative to identify positive clients when they first come for testing. Objectives: To determine demographic profile of HIV positive clients visiting our centre. Methods: Data obtained by HIV testing of clients from January 2012 to December 2012 was analyzed. Age, gender, education, occupation and marital status were evaluated as independent variables. Analysis consisted of descriptive data of frequency tables, means, confidence intervals and multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 14,239 individuals were tested for HIV antibodies. Eight samples were excluded from analysis. 987(6.94%) samples tested positive. As compared to individuals with age above 50 years, those in the age group of 35-49 and 25-34 years had 2.6 and 1.4 times more chance of being positive respectively. Males had 1.6 times more chance of being positive than females. Non-literate had 2.2 times more chance of being positive than individuals who had education more than 10th standard. Daily wage workers from the low socio economic group had 1.5 times more chance of being positive than housewives. As compared to married individuals, divorcee/separated and widow/er had more than four times chance of being positive. A direct walk in client had 12 times more chance of being positive as compared to referred patients. Conclusions: In our patient population, a direct walk in male client in the age group of 25 to 49 years who is not much educated, a daily wage worker and who is either separated/divorced/widow/er has a significantly higher risk of being positive. He should be tested, reported, counseled for behavioral change and practicing safe sex and linked to care and support program preferably on the same day.