DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.028

Pages: 1173-1177

HIV/AIDS affects mainly the economically productive age group thus impeding the social and economic development of the country. Under the National AIDS Control Programme, Integrated Counselling and Testing Centers (ICTC) were established to provide preventive services to the population. The data from ICTC can guide in identifying various risk groups for priority targeted interventions to reduce HIV transmission in the community. The objectives were to study the sociodemographic profile and the risk behaviour patterns of clients diagnosed as HIV positive in all ICTC center's of Sullia Taluk. All the clients attending the ICTC's located in Sullia Taluk, Karnataka formed the sampling frame. Data pertaining to them were collected after obtaining permission from the in-charge medical officers of the ICTC centers. Of the 4652 clients of ICTC, 17 (0.36%) were seropositive for HIV. 76.47% were males, 26.53% were females, 94.11% belonged to 25-49 years age group, 94.11% were married, and 88.24% were literate. Majority (58.82%) of them are labourers from agricultural background and belonged to Class III Socioeconomic status. Unprotected heterosexual intercourse was the major mode of transmission. HIV TB co-infection was seen in 11.76%. In males and females who are positive; the HIV seropositivity in their spouse was 23.07% and 50% respectively. People have begun using ICTC services, which reflects a change in their attitude towards HIV. These findings help us to identify various risk groups and focus our attention on them for priority targeted interventions.