HIV/AIDS-Related Knowledge and Risk Behavior in a Delhi Slum Community

Background: With 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS, India has more HIV cases than any country in the world. Due to India's geographic diversity, however, prevention efforts must be attune to local differences in HIV awareness, risk behaviors, and socio-cultural practices. This study investigates HIV/AIDS–related knowledge and risk behaviors among urban slum dwellers in North India.

Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 248 adults living in Jahangirpuri, a slum community in Delhi, India. Respondents were selected using cluster-sampling techniques. Interviews were conducted in Hindi by trained outreach workers and included six sections: demographics, substance use, sexual practices, HIV/AIDS knowledge, stigma, and community beliefs.

Results: 55.6% of participants were male with a mean age of 31.4 years (range 16 – 60). 70.6% of participants had heard of the terms HIV or AIDS. Among those aware of HIV/AIDS, more than 90% correctly identified predominant transmission routes. Among male respondents, risk behaviors included: 3.6% injection drug use, 28.2% intercourse with commercial sex workers (CSW), and 7.3% multiple sexual partners. 49.1% of all respondents had never used a condom during sexual intercourse while only 9.7% reported always using a condom.

Discussion: Despite previous prevention efforts, the community awareness of HIV/AIDS was low (70.6%) when compared to studies conducted elsewhere in India. Both traditional risk groups and monogamous women are at risk of infection. The presence of multiple risk behaviors in the community (IV-drugs, commercial sex industry, low condom use) suggests that community-targeted prevention efforts are needed to address gaps in knowledge and risk behaviors.