Socio-demographic profile and risk factors of hiv/aids among children attending the ictc bhu varanasi

Background and Objectives: HIV infection was detected in our country in 1986 in a sex worker in Chennai (Tamil Nadu), a southern state of India whereas the virus was originated in Africa during 1959-1960. The first AIDS case was detected in 1981 in U.S.A. It has now become a global epidemic. Presence of a HIV infection everywhere highlight the spread from urban to rural areas, from the high risk to the general population and from the permissive to conservative societies. The major contributors to the spread of disease are migrants with low literacy status. About 85% transmission of disease is horizontal. The estimate of HIV infected population in 2007 was 2.4 million in India.
Globally the epidemic is fastly increasing from highest risk group to bridge population and then general population. Antenatal clinic data indicate a rising HIV prevalence among women, which contributes to increasing HIV infection in children. The prevalence of HIV infection in India was 0.60% among women attending antenatal clinics (ANC).
The objectives of this study are to find out the prevalence and risk factors with 95% CI and status of presenting various morbidities.
Material and Methodology: The data for this study was collected from (Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre (VCTC) (now renamed as ICTC), IMS, BHU, Varanasi from September, 2016 to August, 2017. Out of 5400 screened cases, 436 were children in the age group 0-14 years who visited the S.S. Hospital, for their treatment or called for screening if their parent was HIV positive. 2-3 ml blood sample was taken in a plain vial. HIV testing was done by following strategy-II/III guidelines of WHO-NACO. 2 test was used to determine significant association if any between the study variables and HIV positivity. Multinomial logistic regression method was used to compute the Odds ratio and adjusted odd ratio (95% CI) for the risk factors of HIV
Result: The prevalence of HIV was 17.9% among children in the age group 0-14 years ranging from 16.9% in rural to 23.2% in urban. Odds ratio was 1.49 with 95% CI (0.80-2.77). The positivity rate was observed 20.4% and 26.7% in the age group 0-4 and 5-9 years with zero positivity in the age group 10-14 years. The prevalence was approximately double in the joint family (22.7%) as compared to nuclear family (12.6%). About 50% prevalence was observed among the children suffering with weakness, loose motion, tuberculosis & anorexia. Both father and mother of positive children had the positive status. 82.1% father and 76.1% mother of all study subjects were HIV positive. More than one fourth children had loosed their father/mother or both. These children are innocent but facing the problem of acceptance in society, care by the parents, co-morbidities, quality of life etc. due to activities performed by the parents.
Conclusion:The national and state government should plan to increase their commitment to strengthen HIV treatment, care and support for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and their family members by expanding policy initiatives and committing resources more than ever before.