KARACHI, Nov 30: On the World AIDS Day, being observed on Thursday, the prevalence ratio of HIV/AIDS positive cases among injecting-drug users in the metropolis is stated to be 26 per cent.
According to a scientific study targeting high risk groups obtained by Dawn on Wednesday, the prevalence ratio has increased from 0.4 per cent in later part of the year 2003 to 26 per cent this year.
The report points out a prevalence of seven per cent HIV positive cases among the male sex workers and a two per cent in the eunuch sex workers in the city. However, no female sex worker was tested HIV positive in the pilot mapping.
The study targeting high risk groups to gather information about behavioural and biological trends of HIV/AIDS, conducted by the Canadian International Development Agency in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme, urges the government for prudent efforts necessary to tackle what it describes as an “epidemic” in Sindh.
National AIDS Control Programme Manager Dr Asma Bukhari confirmed the detection of 26 per cent prevalence among the injecting-drug users (IDUs) in Karachi and admitted that prevalence of over five per cent was considered a concentrated epidemic. However, she said, “Pakistan still has low prevalence as we have employed harm reduction programme.
“We are very closely monitoring the situation in Karachi, and have already employed the harm reduction programme in the identified high risk groups,” she said adding that it takes time to change behaviours.
Dr Bukhari said that the National Aid Control Programme was working closely with the Anti-Narcotics Force to check the rising trend.
Dr Sharaf Ali Shah of the Dow University of Health Sciences pointed out that the prevalence ratio of HIV positive cases in the high risk group of IDUs jumped from 0.4 per cent to four per cent by January 2004. By the end of 2004 and the first half of 2005, the prevalence ratio jumped to 25 per cent in Sindh, said Dr Sharaf Ali Shah.
An African sailor visiting Karachi was tested positive in 1986, proving to be the first reported case of the country, followed by reporting of an indigenous case in Lahore in 1987, he said.
Estimates of different high risk groups and their behaviour and biological trends in the two cities of Karachi and Rawalpandi were collected through the pilot mapping by the National Aid Control Programme during the span of later part of the 2004 and the first half of year 2005.
According to the results of Karachi Pilot Mapping and Integrated Behavioural and Biological Surveillance (IBBS), geographic distribution of HIV positive injecting-drug users in the city showed most concentration in Lyari, DHA and Saddar followed by Orangi and Jamshed towns. The study showed that HIV positive were found in 14 of 18 towns and the DHA.
IDUs: The demographic characteristics of HIV positive injecting-drug users showed an average age of 33 years living since their birth in Karachi are 31 per cent, uneducated 55 per cent, educated till primary 30 per cent and married 30 per cent. Average income of this group was estimated around Rs4,374.
According to the high risk behaviours in injecting-drug users, the study showed average of six years as being the IDU, 26 per cent admitted the last shot they took was from shared syringe while 77 per cent said last shot they took was from a new syringe. The average number of injections per day was 2.8. Age of first sexual encounter was reported 19 years and only two per cent used a condom in the last sexual encounter, the study showed.
Demographic characteristics of HIV positive MSWs showed an average age of 21 years, 58 per cent male sex workers have been living in Karachi since their birth, average stay in Karachi was 11 years.
Forty-two per cent were uneducated and 50 per cent were educated till primary. None of the male sex workers was found married. The group has an average income of Rs3,663.
According to the high risk behaviours among male sex workers, the average number of years working as MSW was 4.6 years, in possession of condom at the time of interview one per cent and condom use during the last sexual intercourse 20 per cent, the study showed.
Demographic characteristics among the ESWs showed an average age of 21.5 years and 75 per cent uneducated. Average income of this group was Rs7,250.
The high risk behaviours of ESWs showed 6.5 years working as ESW, age of first sexual encounter reported was 14 years, number of clients per month 24. No eunuch sex worker was found possessing condom at the time of interview, the study showed.
The demographic brothel-based data of female sex workers showed an average age of 28 years, 40 per cent married, 22 per cent with primary education, 35 per cent uneducated. An average monthly income of female sex workers was around Rs10,850.
The demographic data of Kothikhana-based (places less known to general public) female sex workers showed an average age of 27.5 years, 56 per cent married, 45 per cent unmarried, 30 per cent education till primary, 47 per cent uneducated. The monthly income on an average was Rs12,597.
The locations identified by the study for high risk groups in Karachi are:
Burnes Road, Jama Cloth M.A Jinnah Road and Gulshan-i-Bihar for IDUs. Shah Rasool Colony, Ruby Cinema and Gulshan-i-Bihar for female sex workers. Ruby Cinema, Madina Colony and Gulshan-i-Hadeed for eunuch sex workers. Model Colony, Nagan Chowrangi and Dakhana for male sex workers.
