Knowledge of HIV / AIDS among migrants in Delhi slums.

Abstract

Over the past decade, there has been a sharp increase in the reported and estimated numbers of HIV/AIDS cases in India. The UNAIDS estimates that up to 3 million people in India may be infected with HIV, of which 70-80% were infected through unprotected heterosexual activity. Findings are presented from an assessment of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and awareness among slum dwellers in Delhi, India, and which factors affect that knowledge. To explore the links between socioeconomic, health, and migrant status generally, a survey was conducted in 1996 among 150 slum households from different parts of the city. The slum dwellers were all migrants from other states, living for at most 15 years in Delhi. All 361 adults in the selected households were interviewed. Despite significant investment in IEC activities by the State AIDS Cell over the past decade, respondents were found to be poorly informed about HIV/AIDS and how it is spread. The probability of having better knowledge about HIV/AIDS was higher among younger, more educated individuals, as well as among those who owned televisions and lived in certain zones.