India has the world's third largest population suffering from AIDS, after South Africa and Nigeria.[1] However, the estimated number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in India has declined drastically in recent years — from 5.5 million in 2005 to below 2.5 million in 2007. These new figures are supported by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS.[2][3][4]
Despite being home to the world's third largest population suffering from AIDS, the AIDS prevalence rate in India is relatively lower. In 2007, India's AIDS prevalence rate stood at approximately 0.30% — the 89th highest in the world.[5] The spread of HIV in India is primarily restricted to the southern and north-eastern regions of the country and India has also been praised for its extensive anti-AIDS campaign.[6] The US$2.5 billion National AIDS Control Plan III was set up by India in 2007 and received support from UNAIDS.[7]
The apex Government of India body for HIV surveillance is the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). The majority of HIV surveillance data collected by the NACO is done through annual unlinked anonymous testing of prenatal clinic (or antenatal clinics) and sexually transmitted infection clinic attendees. Annual reports of HIV surveillance are freely available on NACO's website.
The main factors which have contributed to India's large HIV-infected population are extensive labor migration, low literacy level in certain rural areas resulting in lack of awareness and gender disparity.[8] The Government of India has also raised concerns about the role of intravenous drug use and prostitution in spreading AIDS, especially in north-east India and certain urban pockets.[8] A recent study published in the British medical journal "The Lancet" in (2006) reported an approximately 30% decline in HIV infections among young women aged 15 to 24 years attending prenatal clinics in selected southern states of India from 2000 to 2004 where the epidemic is thought to be concentrated. The authors cautiously attribute observed declines to increased condom use by men who visit commercial sex workers and cite several pieces of corroborating evidence.