HIV seroprevalence & awareness about AIDS among pregnant women in rural areas of Pune district, Maharashtra, India

The present unlinked anonymous study was done among sexually active rural w omen to assess the extent of spread of HIV and its awareness. Peripheral bl ood samples were collected on filter paper strips from 1251 pregnant women residing in villages in three Primary Health Centres in Pune district of Ma harashtra. flutes were tested for HIV antibodies in two different ELISA sys tems. Awareness on HIV/AIDS was assessed using a structured questionnaire. Fifteen (1.2%) samples were detected to be HIV seropositive. HIV seropreval ence was significantly higher among villages situated close to highways (P< 0.025). Majority (>95%) of the participating women were housewives. Althoug h 70 per cent were aware of the existence of AIDS, only 33 per cent knew ab out all the main modes of HIV transmission. Their main sources of informati on on AIDS were health camps, health workers (70%) and television (45%). Aw areness was associated with higher level of literacy (P<0.001). Many women had misconceptions about the modes of spread of HIV. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on instituting long-term and sustainable strategies to create awareness among young couples with an emphasis on involvement of health wo rkers in rural areas.