title: HIV infection among transport workers operating through Siliguri-Guwahati national highway, India.
abstract: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2004 to understand the problem of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among long-distance transport workers operating through the Siliguri-Guwahati national highway. The study included 301 transport workers who were contacted at different transport workers' stops on the Siliguri-Guwahati national highway. Informed consent was obtained. Participants were interviewed for their socio-demographic characteristics, risk behavior, and risk perceptions. Blood testing for HIV, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis (at least 1:8 dilution) showed seroprevalence rates of 2.3%, 3.7%, and 6.3%, respectively. About 67% said they visited sex workers. The reported condom use rate was 58%. About 27% sustained a sexually transmitted infection within the last year. The existing HIV prevalence among transport workers appears to be low, but in view of their risk behavior and high rate of sexually transmitted infection, HIV rates may increase unless a suitable behavioral intervention is urgently initiated toward them.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Baishali
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: Syed Iftikar
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: Sekhar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Swapan Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Niyogi
authors.forename: Arunangshu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talukder
authors.forename: Nilanjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Kamalesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*