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Information Technology-savvy Andhra Pradesh has achieved the dubious distinction of leading all the Indian states in the incidence of extra-marital sex, a key factor in the spread of the dreaded HIV/AIDS.
An ORG-MARG survey, commissioned by the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), has revealed that 19 per cent of men and seven per cent of women in the state indulged in extra-marital sex during the year 2001.
Incidentally, Andhra Pradesh ranks second, after Maharashtra, in the incidence of HIV/AIDS. According to the latest survey, the state has about 350,000 HIV/AIDS-affected persons.
The sexual route of transmission accounts for more than 90 per cent of the infections with women becoming increasingly vulnerable, most being infected by partners who indulge in extra-marital sex, the survey pointed out.
Seen in this context, the figures for extra-marital sex compare poorly with that for neighbours Karnataka (eight per cent for men and one per for the women) and Tamil Nadu (seven per cent for men and one per cent for women) and the national average of 12 per cent for men and two per cent for women.
However, the survey has also indicated that Andhra Pradesh leads the other states HIV/AIDS awareness programmes with a coverage of 96.4 per cent of the adult population, as against 86 per cent in Tamil Nadu, 84 per cent in Karnataka and a national average of 76 per cent.
Reluctance to use condoms may be one of the reasons for the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Consistent condom use with non-regular sex partners is 25 per cent among sexually active adults in Andhra Pradesh while the national average works out to 32 per cent.
Constant efforts over the past few years has helped bring down the incidence of HIV infections from 2.43 per cent in 1999 to 2.02 per cent this year.
Andhra Pradesh has also recorded the highest prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with seven per cent of men and women in the infected category against the national average of three per cent and six per cent, respectively.
The personal nature of the problem, taboos, myths, stigmatization, illiteracy, lack of awareness and counseling, unsafe sex and consumption of alcohol by vulnerable groups are hampering efforts to counter the problem, the ORG-MARG survey pointed out.
EXTERNAL LINK National AIDS Control Organization
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