SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV/AIDS AMONG ATTENDEES OF ART PLUS CENTRE OF HAMIDIA HOSPITAL BHOPAL (M.P)

BACKGROUND: India has the third largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. Heterosexual contact is the predominant mode of transmission and main risk factor of HIV. OBJECTIVE: To assess the socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs) attending ART plus centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried among 250 newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS positive persons attending the ART plus centre of Hamidia hospital Bhopal India. All the patients in the age range of 18-65 years, were willing to participate were included in the study. The study was conducted from April 2017 to March 2018 and the socio-demographic parameters and associated risk factors of the HIV/ AIDS disease were studied. RESULTS: In the study population (18 years to 65 years), 69.2% were males and 30.0% were females and 0.8% were transgender. Majority of the patient (91.6%) were in age group of (18 to 50 years). Most common occupation found among males were laborers while most of females were house wives 24.0% and 23.2% respectively. Majority of patients belonged to class IV (39.6%) and class III (30.4%) of socioeconomic status. The commonest associated systemic disease was tuberculosis found in 14% of the patients. Unprotected sexual route was the most common (73.6%) mode of transmission; and of them heterosexual route was found to be the commonest (71.6%). CONCLUSION: Majority of patients in the study belong to low socioeconomic class. Amongst the young and productive age group the heterosexual contact was the commonest mode of HIV/AIDS transmission.