Summary Report: Behavioural Surveillance Survey in Gujarat, India: Part 12

Media and Messages

Four most frequently cited sources of HIV/AIDS information

The male sub population groups were the only one who had cited newspapers as one of their common source of information. All groups had said that bill-boards was their source of information. Fifty seven percent students and 9% female slum dwellers had also cited radio as an information source (9%) (Table 8).

Table 8: Sources of information on HIV/AIDS

Reported incidence of genital ulcer/discharge and first step taken after onset of symptoms

Fourteen percent of the sex workers and 15% of their clients had said that they had genital ulcer/discharge in the preceding year. The proportion of other groups who had reported this symptom was lower. Two percent male university students and male slum dwellers each, 6% working female slum dwellers and 4% diamond industry workers had also reported having had genital ulcer. Forty two percent sex workers had stated that the first step they took after the onset of genital ulcer/discharge was to take home based medicinal preparations. Thirty five percent of the male slum dwellers, 32% of the clients of sex workers and 26% of the university students had said that they normally sought treatment from a private health care facility. Forty five percent of the diamond industry workers had reported that they purchased medicines from the drug store. Of the sex workers who had said that they would take home remedy as soon as symptoms of STI manifested, 36% of them had said that they had visited a government health facility later while and 32% were reported to have sought treatment at a private health facility.

The respondents who had not reported any STI symptoms were asked what their preferred sources of treatment would be. Fifty five percent sex workers and 54% of their clients had said that they preferred treatment at a government facility.

In the other groups, among the respondents who had not reported having STI symptoms, 66% diamond industry workers and 74% university students had indicated a preference for treatment at a private health facility, 61% of the working female slum dwellers and 59% of the male slum dwellers had said that they preferred to seek treatment at a government health care facility.

Condoms

More than 90% of all groups except the working female slum dwellers (32%) had heard about a condom. All the groups had cited medical stores/pharmacies as a place to procure condoms (Table 9). Clients (43%) had also cited brothels/sex workers as condom sources. Except for male clients, all other groups had suggested family planning centres as places where condoms could be obtained.

Table 9: Three most commonly cited places where condoms can be obtained

Places Sub-groups

Alcohol and drug consumption

The reported daily alcohol consumption was highest among male clients (9%) and 13% diamond industry workers and 9% clients of sex workers had said that they used to consume alcohol once a week (Figure 14).