The number of HIV infections in India is difficult
to determine. India's prevalence estimates are based
solely on sentinel surveillance conducted at public sites.
The country has no national information system to collect
HIV testing information from the private sector, which
provides 80% of health care in the country.
Although the HIV prevalence rate is low (0.9%), the
overall number of people with HIV infection is very
high according to estimates by UNAIDS. Given India's
large population, with most of the Indian states having
a population greater than a majority of the countries
in Africa, a mere 0.1 percent increase in the prevalence
rate would increase the number of adults living with
HIV/AIDS by over half a million people. |