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MUMBAI: For the first time in decades, Mumbai’s HIV/AIDS control body has conducted a unique exercise to determine the count of families impacted by the endemic, moving beyond individual cases. The result unveiled a significant revelation-as many as 6,000 families are affected by the virus in the city, with 29% of couples failing to adhere to treatment.
Mumbai Districts Aids Control Society (MDACS), which meticulously examined records of over one lakh patients, called this discovery significant, as with this information they are contemplating a shift from the conventional individual-centric approach to a more family-focused strategy in addressing the disease. There are nearly 40,000 people on HIV treatment in the city, which added over 3,000 new cases in 2022-23.
“For the first time, we have insight into not just the number of individuals but also the count of families grappling with the disease,” said Ramakant Biradar, project director, MDACS. The assessment showed another interesting trend: Among couples who defaulted on treatment, a significant 74% of them did so within a six-month window. In essence, if one partner discontinued treatment, the other partner tended to follow suit within six months.
“It shows that family can play a crucial role in adherence,” Biradar said. The findings have prompted the MDACS to announce ‘Family Centric Care’ at its clinics, where they plan to offer integrated testing, synchronised dates for pill collection and joint counselling, among others.
Dr Shrikala Acharya, additional professor of community medicine at KEM Hospital, who collaborated with MDACS to carry out the exercise, said traditionally, HIV treatment systems have centered on individual care, driven in part by the secrecy surrounding individuals reluctant to disclose their status to spouses or partners. However, the global trend is to involve families and communities- incidentally, the theme of World AIDS Day 2023 is ‘Let communities lead’. The team delved into patient lists dating back to 2005 and used addresses to identify these interconnected families, Acharya said, calling it the first such exercise carried out in India.
In fact, treatment adherence among existing patients has emerged as a significant challenge statewide. The Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS) has identified 18,321 individuals who have defaulted on treatment and is considering involving the police to ensure their return to the treatment programme.
An official said despite the government allowing free bus travel within 50km, the default rate continues to be high. Activists have emphasized the need to invest in improved strategies aimed at adherence and reducing new infections.
In 2022-2023, Maharashtra identified 14,346 cases of HIV out of 42 lakh individuals tested, resulting in a positivity rate of 0.34%. Mumbai, being the state’s highest-risk district, recorded 3,116 cases with a positivity rate of 0.7%, more than twice the state average. Among the newly diagnosed individuals with HIV in Mumbai, 75% are aged between 15-49 and 31% are women.
Mumbai Districts Aids Control Society (MDACS), which meticulously examined records of over one lakh patients, called this discovery significant, as with this information they are contemplating a shift from the conventional individual-centric approach to a more family-focused strategy in addressing the disease. There are nearly 40,000 people on HIV treatment in the city, which added over 3,000 new cases in 2022-23.
“For the first time, we have insight into not just the number of individuals but also the count of families grappling with the disease,” said Ramakant Biradar, project director, MDACS. The assessment showed another interesting trend: Among couples who defaulted on treatment, a significant 74% of them did so within a six-month window. In essence, if one partner discontinued treatment, the other partner tended to follow suit within six months.
“It shows that family can play a crucial role in adherence,” Biradar said. The findings have prompted the MDACS to announce ‘Family Centric Care’ at its clinics, where they plan to offer integrated testing, synchronised dates for pill collection and joint counselling, among others.
Dr Shrikala Acharya, additional professor of community medicine at KEM Hospital, who collaborated with MDACS to carry out the exercise, said traditionally, HIV treatment systems have centered on individual care, driven in part by the secrecy surrounding individuals reluctant to disclose their status to spouses or partners. However, the global trend is to involve families and communities- incidentally, the theme of World AIDS Day 2023 is ‘Let communities lead’. The team delved into patient lists dating back to 2005 and used addresses to identify these interconnected families, Acharya said, calling it the first such exercise carried out in India.
In fact, treatment adherence among existing patients has emerged as a significant challenge statewide. The Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS) has identified 18,321 individuals who have defaulted on treatment and is considering involving the police to ensure their return to the treatment programme.
An official said despite the government allowing free bus travel within 50km, the default rate continues to be high. Activists have emphasized the need to invest in improved strategies aimed at adherence and reducing new infections.
In 2022-2023, Maharashtra identified 14,346 cases of HIV out of 42 lakh individuals tested, resulting in a positivity rate of 0.34%. Mumbai, being the state’s highest-risk district, recorded 3,116 cases with a positivity rate of 0.7%, more than twice the state average. Among the newly diagnosed individuals with HIV in Mumbai, 75% are aged between 15-49 and 31% are women.