MICRO-SOCIAL MAPPING OF HIV POSITIVE CASES IN AND AROUND VARANASI Chiranjay Mukhopadyay',Gopal Nath’, S.C. Mohapatra’, A.K. Gulati’ ABSTRACT Out of 7904 serum samples studied during the period of 1998 and 1989 23% (3.0%) samples were detected HIV positive. Those positive cases were distributad in Uttar Pradesh (64.9%, 155/239), Bihar (25.5%, 61/239) and Madhya Pradesh (9.6 23/239), which are the major catchment areas of this region. In and around Varanasi district, Bhadohi (10.9%), Harahua (10.9%), Chandauli (10.9%), Baragaon (8.5%) and Cholapur (8.5%) had the major. In the micro-social mapping of different areas of Varanasi, HIV positive cases were detected among CSWs (Commercial Sex Workers) in Shivdaspur area, Railway station godown, Shukulpura; among drivers in the auto stand of Railway station, Lanka, Godowlia, Chowk area and on the GT (Grand Trunk) road; among rag-pickers and adolescent boys in various petrol pumps, restaurants/dhabas, in the railway station etc., among the STD (sexually Transmitted Disease) patients in Sigra, Sunderpur, Nai Sarak area and among IVDUs (Intravenous Drug Users) in Sigra and Assi Ghat areas. Key words: Micro social Mapping, HIV 1, Department of Microbiology, 2. Department of Community Medicine, IMS, BHU, Varanasi . Indexed in : index Medicus (IMSEAR), INSDOC, NCI Current Content, Database of Alcohol & Drug Abuse, National Database in TB & Allied Diseases, IndMED, Entered in WHO CD ROM for South East AsieG Mukhopadhyay et al Micro-socral mapping of HIV positive cases in and around Varanasi INTRODUCTION In India the HIV/AIDS epidemic Is now more than a decade old and within the short peniod it has emerged as one of the most serious public health problem in the country Varanasi, the most ancient existing city of the world, 1s situated on the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India, and 1s famous for its religious and tourist importance to attract people from all over the globe A large number of urban and rural people of this region visit metropolitan cities ike Mumbat, Kolkata and Chennai in search of livelihood leaving their families behind and at times get habituated to promiscuous life style These people, as mostly speculated, bring this dreadful HIV infection on their vocational inp back home As most of the highways in the northem India pass through or by this region, the truck dnvers play an important role im spreading the infection The commercial sex workers (CSWs) gradually become a reservoir of HIV infection The adolescent boys below the age group of eighteen years who generally work in the petrol pumps, restaurants and canteens or scavenge as _rag-pickers often become the unfortunate pray of this infection in various ways Intravenous drug abusing has become a popular method among the youths to get nd of so called frustration and depression The present study details the Micro social mapping of HIV positive cases in and around Varanasi MATTERS AND METHODS A total number of 7904 serum samples were studied during the period 1998 and 1999 Samples were collected from different categories of individuals from different sources such as hospital indoors, outdoors, AIDS surveillance centre in the department of microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University Students and from various places in the city of Varanasi Out of total 7904 serum samples, 3678 samples were from males and 4226 from females The study group was divided into LRG (low risk group) consisting of the BHU (Banaras Hindu University) students (91), HCWs (Health Care Workers) (140), the medical and surgical patients (1026), ANC (Antenatal cases) cases (2857) and the foreigners (132), and HRG (high risk group) consisting of CSWs (Commercial Sex Workers) (60), the drivers (261), IVDs (Intravenous Drug Users) (133), STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) patients (1552), the adolescent boys (100) and the clinically suspected AIDS cases (1562) The blood samples were tested immediately or on the day of collection by ELISA and/or rapid test In.a few occasions, the samples were stored at 2-8°C in the refngerator and tested within 48 hr For the tests instructions by the manufactures were strictly followed Indian J. Prev. Soc, Med Vol. 35 No.1 of 2 86 Jan.-June, 2004C. Mukhopadhyay et al . Micro-social mapping of HIV positive cases in and around Varanast The reactive samples were sent to NICD, Delhi, for confirmation with Western Blot Strategy Il Of the study population, 239 (3.02%) samples were detected HIV positive, out of which 169 (70.7%) were from males and 70 (29,3%0 from females. The positive samples were followed up during micro social mapping (vide infra) which was prepared by qualitative information collection. At the time of mapping the index cases were traced from official information, HIV positive samples or as per local informants Micro-social Mapping: In the present study, detailed micro-social mapping of the distribution of HIV high risk cases was done and the major catchment areas for the prevalence of HIV/ AIDS infection has been outlined {Map 1, shaded areas), Out of total 239 HIV positive cases, 155 cases were detected from Uttar Pradesh, 61 from Bihar and 23 from Madhya Pradesh (Table-1). The major area in Uttar Pradesh from where seropositive cases were detected are Jaunpur, Ballia, Azai.igarh, Mau, Ghazipur, Mughalsarai, Mirzapur, Allahabad, Raibareli, Faizabad, and Varanasi. In addition Sahasram, Aurangabad, Buxur, Arrah, Siwan, Gopalganj and Chhapra in Bihar and Rewa, Satna, Siddhi, Maihar and Bharatpur in Madhya Pradesh; were the major areas from where the HIV positive cases were detected. MICRO WAP STATION vaaniasi” MAP-1 Indian J. Prev, $06, Med Vol 3§ No.1 La