Authorities blame it to fast-paced social networking within the MSM group, which they have failed to tap for outreach programmes.
Believe it or not, unprotected sex, especially among MSM (men having sex with men), is one of the main reasons behind the spread of HIV/AIDS. The data, released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday, also shows a decline in trend of HIV infections across the country.
According to the figures, among the causes behind new infections, as high as 95% is attributed to MSM category. It points out that the risk-factor and vulnarabily were found to be high among this group. Experts and health officials, whom dna spoke to, also attested to the fact that MSM high-risk group is a cause of worry.
Authorities blame it to fast-paced social networking within the MSM group, which they have failed to tap for outreach programmes.
Dr Shobhana Tehra, joint director, Maharashtra State AIDS control Society (MSACS) said, "We are concerned about creating awareness on safe sex in the targeted groups like MSMs as technology is overriding the outreach programmes. A number of websites and android applications have cropped up over the last one year, making networking among homosexuals rapid and quick. It is of utmost importance that MSM groups indulge in safe sex to prevent HIV transmission."
She further said, "Every man registered in this target intervention (TI) group has up to four to five male partners. If even one male strays to unsafe sex, the chances of transmitting HIV to the other partners increase by upto five times."
Agrees Dr Shrikala Acharya, the additional project director in Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society. Stating that Mumbai scenario is the same, she said: "This high-risk group do not come out in open due to various reasons, including social stigma. With advancement in technology, it has become even more difficult to reach out to this high-risk group. "
Recently, World Health Organisation, to create awareness about HIV/AIDS observed December 1 as World Aids Day, where this year's theme was 'Getting to zero-zero new infection, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related death'. But experts feel that to achieve zero infection, we need to concentrate on MSM category living with HIV to prevent new infection cases.
Officials say they are facing the same issues in reaching out to trans-gender (TG) category for awareness. "Both TGs and MSMs are rebellious in nature. While TGs on daily basis have 13 to 15 clients and refuse to use condoms, MSMs remain hidden and are difficult to tap," said another official from MSACS.
Kaur said the transgender population remains a major part of this segment. "TGs are mostly illiterate and don't have any other occupation. No one hires them. Most take to begging and commercial sex to earn a livelihood. We need to look into the basic factors too," said Kaur.
The following major factors/reasons have been identified with respect to HIV/AIDS transmission:
Unprotected sexual intercourse including Men who have sex with Men (95%).
HIV infected pregnant women to her foetus or infant before, during or after birth (3%).
Use of improperly sterilized needles and syringes that have been in contact with infected blood can transmit HIV (0.9%).
Transfusion of infected blood, blood products & transplantation of HIV infected organs or tissues (0.1%).
Non-specified factors (1%).
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