EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES OF ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME IN SOUTHERN INDIA

AIDS was diagnosed in 187 men and 24 women (M : F = 8 : 1) from April 1987 till December 1994 at the Christian Medical College Hospital Vell ore. The doubling time of the occurrence of AIDS cases was 14 months; during 1987-90 there were an average of 5.7 cases per year; in 1991-93 there were 28 per year; in 1994 there were 104 cases. The mean age of patients was 33 yr for men and 31 for women. Among men, the primary m ode of Infection was heterosexual contact with female commercial sex w orkers. Among women, the most common source of infection was their hus bands. There were 4 bisexuals and one homosexual subject who might hav e acquired infection by having sex with other men. There were 135 subj ects from urban and 76 from rural communities. Most subjects belonged to the lower socio-economic classes. These data show that HIV infectio n had been very widespread in this region, both urban and rural.