Background and objectives Integrated Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTCs) cater to populations at high risk of acquiring HIV as well as the HIV positives. The present study was aimed at assessing the demographic variables, and primary psychosocial stressors among ICTC attendees. Method All the ICTC attendees formed this descriptive study population without any exclusion criteria. Prescribed proforma containing study questionnaires were filled up prior to and after the testing for HIV. Results 288 of 311 attendees were screened (mean age 29.3 years). 25% were HIV positives. 22% of these were children (≤14 years). All 311 attendees underwent pre-test counseling. 255 (88.5%) attended post-test counseling. The major psychosocial stressors were: the concern about the future of family members (49%) and the financial concerns (33%). Multiple stressors were present in 80.7% attendees. The heterosexual mode of contact was the commonest (75%) mode of HIV transmission. Interpretation and conclusion HIV infected pediatric age group surfaces in this study. The psychosocial stressors do prevail among the patient as well as the high risk population. The knowledge of anticipated stressors may be helpful in imparting better counseling to these populations.

Background and objectives: Over the years, there has been growing evidence of continuous narrowing gender gap in new HIV infections, despite stagnation in the overall prevalence of HIV in India. Among others, one of the reasons behind the existing pattern in HIV/AIDS in the country is the poor status of women, lack of control over sexuality and poor reproductive and sexual rights among women. NFHS-4 results portray profound increase in woman’s status and empowerment in India in the recent years. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the relationship between woman’s empowerment, their HIV vulnerability and prevalence of HIV across different states in India. Data and methods: This paper utilizes the data from two rounds of National Family Health Surveys, Indian version of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 2005-06 (NFHS-3) and 2015-16 (NFHS-4) respectively and information collected through National Sentinel Surveillance conducted by National AIDS Control Programme during 2012-2015. Results: Despite the increase in women empowerment in the recent years, the comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS, a means to reduce women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, has not improved significantly. The level of spousal violence has reduced by almost 20 percent in the last one decade (2005-2015) and women participation in household decision making has also increased significantly across different states. Further, there is an extensive awareness among women regarding condom use as a protection against HIV. However, the recent evidence from NFHS 4 and Sentinel Surveillance do not support pronounced association between women’s empowerment and consistent condom use visa V is prevalence of HIV, which has been evident in most of sub Saharan African Countries. The relationship seems to be spurious, especially in well-known high HIV prevalence states of India like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur and Karnataka. Conclusions: All programs to curve the pace of HIV epidemic focusing at reducing woman’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, should not merely focus at general woman’s empowerment but there should be specific awareness and capacity building programmes addressing comprehensive knowledge and condom promotion among women.

Background and objectives Integrated Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTCs) cater to populations at high risk of acquiring HIV as well as the HIV positives. The present study was aimed at assessing the demographic variables, and primary psychosocial stressors among ICTC attendees. Method All the ICTC attendees formed this descriptive study population without any exclusion criteria. Prescribed proforma containing study questionnaires were filled up prior to and after the testing for HIV. Results 288 of 311 attendees were screened (mean age 29.3 years). 25% were HIV positives. 22% of these were children (≤14 years). All 311 attendees underwent pre-test counseling. 255 (88.5%) attended post-test counseling. The major psychosocial stressors were: the concern about the future of family members (49%) and the financial concerns (33%). Multiple stressors were present in 80.7% attendees. The heterosexual mode of contact was the commonest (75%) mode of HIV transmission. Interpretation and conclusion HIV infected pediatric age group surfaces in this study. The psychosocial stressors do prevail among the patient as well as the high risk population. The knowledge of anticipated stressors may be helpful in imparting better counseling to these populations.

Background and objectives: Over the years, there has been growing evidence of continuous narrowing gender gap in new HIV infections, despite stagnation in the overall prevalence of HIV in India. Among others, one of the reasons behind the existing pattern in HIV/AIDS in the country is the poor status of women, lack of control over sexuality and poor reproductive and sexual rights among women. NFHS-4 results portray profound increase in woman’s status and empowerment in India in the recent years. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the relationship between woman’s empowerment, their HIV vulnerability and prevalence of HIV across different states in India. Data and methods: This paper utilizes the data from two rounds of National Family Health Surveys, Indian version of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 2005-06 (NFHS-3) and 2015-16 (NFHS-4) respectively and information collected through National Sentinel Surveillance conducted by National AIDS Control Programme during 2012-2015. Results: Despite the increase in women empowerment in the recent years, the comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS, a means to reduce women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, has not improved significantly. The level of spousal violence has reduced by almost 20 percent in the last one decade (2005-2015) and women participation in household decision making has also increased significantly across different states. Further, there is an extensive awareness among women regarding condom use as a protection against HIV. However, the recent evidence from NFHS 4 and Sentinel Surveillance do not support pronounced association between women’s empowerment and consistent condom use visa V is prevalence of HIV, which has been evident in most of sub Saharan African Countries. The relationship seems to be spurious, especially in well-known high HIV prevalence states of India like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur and Karnataka. Conclusions: All programs to curve the pace of HIV epidemic focusing at reducing woman’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, should not merely focus at general woman’s empowerment but there should be specific awareness and capacity building programmes addressing comprehensive knowledge and condom promotion among women.