Are Truckers Being over Stigmatized as HIV Carriers in India? Evidences from Behavioral and Biological Cross-Sectional Surveys among Clients of Female Sex Workers

Damodar Sahu,Arvind Pandey,Niranjan Saggurti,Bitra George,Sowmya Ramesh,Reena Bharadwaj,K Srikanth Reddy,Mandar Mainkar,Ram Manohar Mishra

doi:10.4236/ojpm.2015.53010

Abstract

This paper examines whether truckers have been over-stigmatized as HIV carriers in the country. Data were taken from cross-sectional surveys of clients of female sex workers conducted in 2006-2007 in 12 districts of the country. A total 4822 clients of female sex workers were covered in the survey. Low-income skilled/semi-skilled men, including non-agricultural/casual labor, and petty businessmen/small shop owners, have the largest share in the clients’ population. There was no significant difference between truckers and other sub-group of clients’ population in terms of consistent condom use with female sex workers and prevalence of HIV or STI. These evidences suggest that the contribution of truckers in HIV epidemic in India might to similar to other sub-groups of clients’ population. Thus, truckers might have been over-stigmatized as HIV carriers in the country. However, there is no doubt that truckers constitute an extremely important target group for the HIV prevention programs and these efforts must be continued to prevent new HIV infections in the country.

Highlights

Bridge populations such as truckers and migrant labors are considered to be at risk of contracting HIV in many parts of the world
A larger proportion of trucker clients were literate as compared to other clients (P = 0.001)
A higher proportion of truckers were currently married living with partners compared to clients in other professions (P = 0.003)

Summary

Introduction

Bridge populations such as truckers and migrant labors are considered to be at risk of contracting HIV in many parts of the world. In India, studies reported high-risk behaviors of truckers including sex with multiple partners and low condom use by truck drivers with sex workers (58% - 74%) and unpaid female sex partners (20%) [4] [5] [10]-[14] Due to their high-risk behavior, truckers those who travel on National Highways for long distances across the country, have attracted researchers and policy makers for their role in disseminating infection from core groups to general population [4] [9] [15]. This is reflected in empirical studies on truckers’ sexual behavior and high STI/HIV prevalence in this group. Truckers are considered an important bridge group to work with to slow the spread of HIV into the general population [9] [16]

Methods

Results

Conclusion