Общественная медицина и санитарное просвещение

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Targeted Interventions in HIV/AIDS and Gender Disparities in Health Services Utilization among HIV Infected of Delhi, India

Ekta Saroha and Naghma Qureshi

Objective: In India 2.5 million people are positive for HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) where men population is more than women. Targeted intervention overlooks gender variations and focuses on “high risk groups”. Gender disparities are lesser known. Objective of this study was to examine HIV/AIDS healthcare services utilization disparities among male, female, and ‘other’ PLHIVs in Delhi, India.
Methods: Data from a cross-sectional study for a convenience sample of 355 adult PLHIVs were analyzed in 2011. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and multivariable logistic regression helped determine odds of HIV/AIDS healthcare services utilization by male and female PLHIVs compared to ‘other’ PLHIVs.
Results: Male PLHIVs were less likely to use pre-test counseling (ORa=0.18, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.96, p<0.05), treatment for any STI (ORa=0.30, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.73, p<0.05), and free condoms (ORa=0.24, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.80, p<0.05), than ‘other’ PLHIVs. Contrarily, male PLHIVs were 3 times (ORa: 3.29, 95% CI: 1.37, 10.87, p<0.05) more likely to get treated for any opportunistic infections than ‘other’ PLHIVs. Female PLHIVs were less likely to utilize pretest counseling (ORa: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.70, p<0.05) and free condoms (ORa: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.25, p<0.05) than ‘other’ PLHIVs.
Conclusions: Utilization of HIV/AIDS healthcare services varied by gender among adult PLHIVs of Delhi.
Targeted intervention strategy in India augment gender disparities in HIV/AIDS healthcare and inhibit utilization among male and female PLHIVs. Universal access can foster gender equity.