HIV-infected workers deported from the Gulf States: impact on southern Pakistan

HIV prevalence is still very low in Pakistan, but its south Asian location and subgroups with recognized lifestyle risk factors suggest that Pakistan will experience expanded diffusion of HN. We report the frequency of HIV in fections identified by the AIDS Control Programme on the Sindh province of Pakistan. Most HIV-positive cases currently reported to the Sindh AIDS Cont rol Programme are found among Pakistani workers deported from the Gulf Stat es and among foreigners. The 58 returned workers with HIV represent 61 to 8 6% of reported cases in any given year during the 1996-1998 period. Five wi ves of returning workers have been identified with HIV. Expatriate workers in the Gulf States are tested for HIV routinely, unlike other subgroups in Pakistan. Considering the risk of HIV/AIDS due to regular introduction of H IV from returned workers, and the Limited awareness surrounding sexual heal th and HIV/STD transmission issues in Pakistan, intervention programmes tar geted at overseas workers need to be implemented to control the expansion o f the HN epidemic in Pakistan.