Karnataka is estimated to have an adult (15–49 years) HIV prevalence rate of 0.52, which is higher than the national prevalence rate of 0.27.
According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ‘HIV estimations, 2012’, the country’s adult HIV prevalence rate declined from 0.31 in 2009-10 to 0.27 in 2011. HIV prevalence rate among males and females is estimated at 0.32 and 0.22 respectively.
The survey report said, in 2011, Manipur had the highest estimated adult HIV prevalence rate of 1.22 followed by Andhra Pradesh (0.75), Mizoram (0.74), Nagaland (0.73), Karnataka (0.52), Goa (0.43) and Maharashtra (0.42).
Besides these States, Odisha, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh had an estimated adult HIV prevalence rate greater than the national prevalence rate (0.27). Declining trend in the adult prevalence rate is found in Karnataka as well as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Manipur and Nagaland.
Steady decline
The national prevalence rate has registered a steady decline from 0.41 in 2001 to 0.35 in 2006 to 0.27 in 2011.
The high-prevalence States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu collectively account for about 31 per cent of new HIV infections in India in 2011.
To refine its strategies and to evaluate the impact of the interventions, National AIDS Control Organisation conducts HIV Sentinel Surveillance and HIV Estimation at regular intervals. The latest round of HIV Sentinel Surveillance was completed in 2011.
21 lakh people
In 2011, the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in the country was estimated at 21 lakh.
The highest PLHIVs are in Andhra Pradesh at 4.2 lakh followed by Maharashtra at 3.15 lakh.
The other States with HIV infections of more than one lakh are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Odisha.
Children (below the age of 15) account for 7 per cent of all infections and those in the age group of 15 to 49 account for 86 per cent of all infections. Of all HIV infections, 39 per cent (8.16 lakh) are among women.
The number of annual AIDS-related deaths in the country has declined from 2,06,671 in 2007 to 1,47,729 in 2011 while number of persons living with HIV declined from 22.52 lakh in 2007 to 20.88 lakh in 2011, the survey report said.
