AEGiS-15IAC: Impact of HIV/AIDS intervention among migrant workers in urban slums of a northeast indian city.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Impact of HIV/AIDS intervention among migrant workers in urban slums of a northeast indian city.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10301)

Bordoloi R
ASCED(NGO), Guwahati, India

ISSUES: Guwahati is the largest city in the Northeast India and the city is ever expanding and its population ever increasing. There is also high volume of migration and being the gateway of Northeast a large population of people enter and exit through this busy capital city. A large segment of the migrant population inhibits the stretch of land on both side of the railway track in the city. As they are marginalized group live in poverty, stay away from their families and because of their ignorance of the risk involved they engage in sex with multiple partners. They also harbour a lot of misconception about sex and sexuality and HIV/AIDS. They are therefore at risk of acquiring STDs and HIV/AIDS.

DESCRIPTION: ASCED'S peer based targeted intervention project among migrant workers in urban slums residing at both side of the North-Eastern Frontier Railway track, Guwahati, Assam, India was the three and half years intervention project started during April, 2000 to September, 2003 involving 2500 migrant workers of five intervention sites. The intervention programmes aims at reducing the transmission of HIV/AIDS among 2500 migrant workers by bringing change in sexual behaviour through health promotion and education, provision of appropriate facilities and services and minimizing the possible impact of HIV/AIDS infection.

LESSONS LEARNT: During the last three and half years of project, *1761 STD cases were treated, *1093 referred to the service providers, *26 condom outlets were established, *242 Community mobilization events were held, *Four HIV+v cases identified, tested and now under care and proper counseling, *82% of them know the mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS, *74 % have correct knowledge of condom usages. Recommendation: Peer based approach on HIV/AIDS intervention on sexual behaviour has been largely successful but requires regular followup.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Transients and Migrants, Poverty Areas, HIV Infections, Condoms, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, Cities, Emigration and Immigration, Ethnic Groups, Demography, Population, India, organization & administration, education

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D10301