Transgenders at higher risk of HIV infection: UN
By IANSTuesday, November 23, 2010
NEW DELHI - Transgenders are at a higher risk of contracting HIV infection, said a UN report on AIDS epidemic released Tuesday.
The 2010 UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic found among the high risk group that got HIV infection in India in 2009 — 9.2 percent were those using injected drugs, 7.3 percent were men having sex with men and 4.9 percent were women sex workers.
Transgender are high at risk because there is very limited information available about them. It is the smallest group having the largest risk, said Charles Gilks, UNAIDS country coordinator, India.
However, data from 78 countries show that condom use among men who have sex with men was more than 50 percent in 54 countries.
Reports of condom use by sex workers are also encouraging. In 69 countries, more than 60 percent of sex workers used a condom with their last client.
Access to HIV prevention services including harm reduction programmes for people who inject drugs has reached 32 percent — far short of what is needed to protect drug users from HIV worldwide.
