English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global pandemic.HIV continues to be a burden globally and presents serious public health problems in the developing countries, especially in India. According to the UNAIDS and World Health Organization (WHO) reports of November 2010, there are approximately 33.3 million people living with HIV/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) worldwide, with a global prevalence of 0 .8%. It is now the leading cause of adult deaths in the world due to infectious diseases. HIV has become the first truly international epidemic easily crossing the oceans & borders. METHODOLOGY: A case-series study was conducted among HIV positive patients coming to the ART centre for seeking treatment at ART Centre, Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences Bellary, Karnataka from March 2011 to September 2011. The sample size of the study was 500 and consecutive sampling technique is used. Permission from respective authorities and written consent from study participants was obtained. Data was collected using a pre tested semi structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: The study subjects included both males (54%) and females (46%). The educational status is less than primary schooling in 88% of study subjects and 90% are married. Hetero sexual route of transmission was most common and only 16.1% of study subjects used contraceptives. CONCLUSION: Both males and females were equally infected with HIV and productive age group is more commonly affected. Use of contraception is very low.