Perceptions of risk and behaviour change for prevention of HIV among married women in Mumbai, India.

Heterosexual transmission accounts for the majority of cases in India, an epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, with increasing rates of infection in married women contracting HIV from an infected spouse. Cultural roles and position of married women in Indian society render targeted risk-reduction programmes difficult. To investigate HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, perceptions, and behaviour change among married women in India, an interview-based survey was conducted with 350 married women in Mumbai, of whom 67% (236) were aware of HIV/AIDS. Although 59.3% (140) of those aware mentioned indiscriminate sexual activity as increasing risk of HIV, only two (41%) in five women perceived HIV as a threat to the community; one (12%) in eight perceived personal risk of getting infected as high; and only 7.2% (17) reported behaviour change to avoid infection. When probed for reasons for not changing behaviour, most women cited their personal behaviour of monogamy, not being in an at-risk group, such as commercial sex workers, and trust in their husbands. Education programmes among married women that enable better understanding of risks are urgently required. Since marriage and motherhood are important in the Indian cultural context, male spouses should be included in risk-reduction programmes.

Impact of disability on quality of life of rural disabled people in Bangladesh.

This study examined the impact of disability on the quality of life of disabled people in rural Bangladesh. A primary healthcare specialist conducted a door-to-door survey in two villages in Bangladesh to collect socioeconomic and demographic information on the villagers and for identification of disabled people. Information on disability and how it affected their life was also obtained either from the disabled people or from their caregivers by interviewing them. The study revealed that disability had a devastating effect on the quality of life of the disabled people with a particularly negative effect on their marriage, educational attainment, employment, and emotional state. Disability also jeopardized their personal, family and social life. More than half of the disabled people were looked at negatively by society. Disabled women and girl children suffered more from negative attitudes than their male counterparts, resulting in critical adverse effects on their psychological and social health. A combination of educational, economic and intensive rehabilitative measures should be implemented urgently to make them self-reliant. Collaborative communication between professionals and parents, behavioural counselling, formation of a self-help group, and comprehensive support to families will reduce their suffering.