INCREASING PREVALENCE OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION AMONGPATIENTS ATTENDING A CLINIC FOR SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Of 5883 patients screened during 1986 to 1993 in the sexually transmit ted diseases (STD) clinic at a hospital in Vellore, south India, 105 ( 1.79%) were positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody. The prevalence of HIV infection increased from 0.26 per cent in 1986 t o 2.64 per cent In 1993. In 1992 the prevalence was even higher, namel y 3.94 per cent. The overall prevalence In these 8 yr was 1.98 per cen t among men (n = 4392) and 1.21 per cent among women (n = 1491), the d ifference being statistically significant (P < 0.05). The prevalence i n men rose from 0.36 per cent in 1986 to 4.24 per cent in 1992, and in women from 0 to 3.04 per cent during the same period. The major sourc e of infection in men was female commercial sex workers, but among wom en it was mostly their husbands. The increase in prevalence of HN infe ction is alarming, and indicates that the massive educational campaign s and other preventive measures have not resulted in decreased transmi ssion.