HIV SCENARIO AT GLOBAL & NATIONAL LEVEL

At the end of December 2020, globally 37.7 million [30.2 million–45.1 million] people were living with HIV. Worldwide 1.5 million [1.0 million–2.0 million] People became newly infected with HIV in 2020 and 6, 80, 000 [4, 80, 000–1.0 million] people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2020 [UNAIDS 2020 Fact sheets]. 

The Indian HIV Epidemic has been defined as a concentrated non-IDU epidemic in all the states except Manipur and Nagaland, where the epidemic is defined as a Concentrated IDU epidemic. As per the Technical Report on India HIV estimates 2020, there were an estimated 23, 18,738 (18, 33,277–29, 77,830) people living with HIV (PLHIV) with an adult (15–49 years) HIV prevalence of 0.22% (0.17– 0.29%). Children living with HIV (CLHIV) comprised 3.5% of the total PLHIV estimates. HIV-infected women (15+ years) constituted around 43% of the total estimated 15+ years PLHIV. Adult HIV Prevalence has declined by 33.3% from 2010 to 2020. There were 57,549 [28,510–1, 13,695] new HIV infections in 2020 which has declined by 47.8% since 2010. There were 31,944 [20,467-52,007] AIDS related deaths in 2020, which has declined by 82.2% since 2010 as an impact of ART. HIV incidence was estimated at 0.04 per 1,000 uninfected populations in 2020. Around 20,926 [15,328–29,075] pregnant women were estimated to be in need of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in 2020.

HIV SCENARIO AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL

The northeastern part of India comprises of some high HIV prevalence states and some low HIV prevalence states. In India, Mizoram had the highest estimated adult HIV prevalence of 2.37%, followed by Nagaland (1.44%) and Manipur (1.15%). The other North Eastern State with an estimated adult HIV prevalence that was higher than the national average included Meghalaya 0.53%. Similarly, the number of PLHIV per million population was the highest in Mizoram (17,207), followed by Nagaland (10,421), Manipur (9,510). The estimated incidence per 1,000 uninfected populations continued to be the highest in the three northeastern States of Mizoram (0.94), Nagaland (0.68) and Manipur (0.33) in 2020 including Meghalaya (0.21).  

HIV SCENARIO IN ASSAM

Assam is categorized as a low HIV Prevalence state with an estimated adult HIV Prevalence of 0.08% [0.07–0.10] which is lower than the National Prevalence of 0.22%. It is estimated that Assam had 1160 new HIV infections in 2020 (NACO HIV Estimations report 2020). The report also states that Assam had an estimated 21,240 people living with HIV (PLHA) in 2020. Assam is also a highly vulnerable state for HIV transmission because of the following reasons:

1. It is the gate-way of the northeastern states.
2. It is surrounded by three high prevalence states of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
3. Large number of young population from the state is also going to large cities for employment and get involves in high-risk behaviour.
4. Assam has a large private health sector which caters to all the northeastern states.
5. Large number of female migrants from other northeastern states, West Bengal, Nepal who has come to Assam for Employment and education and gets involved in risk behavior favorable for HIV transmission.

HIV SCENARIO AS PER NATIONAL AIDS CONTROL PROGRAMME DATA

National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) data shows that, Assam has able to test 67,15,121 persons (22,22,527 General Clients and 44,92,594 Pregnant Women) till 31^st Oct, 2021 and 20,841 numbers of cases has been diagnosed as HIV Positive out of which 19030 are General clients and 1,811 are pregnant women [Table.1].

Table 1: No. of Clients tested for HIV and detected positive (as on 31^st Oct, 2021):

Among the risk factor of the detected cases, it has been observed that the main root of transmission for HIV infection in Assam is sexual (86.31%). Transmission through infected syringe and needles is 5.24% .

District wise detection of HIV Positive as on 31^th Oct, 2021:

District wise detection shows that, maximum number of cases (33%) has been diagnosed in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, while 23% of the cases have been diagnosed from Cachar district.