Prevalence rate of HIV among FSWs decreasing

Kathmandu, July 21

Prevalence rate of HIV AIDS among female sex workers and wives of migrant workers has decreased in the recent years, according to a report made public by the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control.

Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey-2017/18, conducted with the technical support of NCASC shows that HIV prevalence rate among female sex workers has gone down to 0.7 per cent.

The survey was carried out in 22 districts — Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Dhading, Makwanpur, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur.

In 2003, HIV prevalence rate among female sex workers was two per cent, in 2006 prevalence rate was 1.5 per cent, but in 2009, the prevalence rate increased and it reached 2.3 per cent. In 2012, it came down to one per cent and in 2015, prevalence rate further decreased to 0.8 per cent.

In the same way, the survey conducted among the wives of migrant workers in four district —  Achham, Doti, Kailali and Kanchanpur — also shows significant decrease in the number of HIV infected patients in the last one decade.

HIV prevalence rate among the wives of male migrant workers has come down to 0.5 per cent from 3.3 per cent seen in the year 2008.

As per the report, 31 per cent of female sex workers and six per cent wives of migrant workers received HIV counseling services in last one year. the report also shows that 67.7 per cent FSW and 15.9 per cent WMW use contraceptives.