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Introduction India has the second-highest number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). Despite the national decline in the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from 2000 to 2021, regional variations persist, particularly in the northeastern and southern states. High-risk populations, including female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and injecting drug users (IDU), significantly contribute to these dynamics. This study focuses on high-prevalence districts in Karnataka. Objectives This study aims to identify socioeconomic and behavioral factors associated with high HIV prevalence in high-burden districts of South Indian states. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTCs) and Designated STI/RTI (sexually transmitted infections/reproductive tract infections) Clinics (DSRCs) across 24 centers in the three districts. The centers were determined using a simple random sampling method. Data from 2501 HIV-positive individuals were analyzed, focusing on demographics, risk behaviors, and treatment history. Results Males constituted the majority of HIV cases, accounting for 448 (56.0%) in Vijayapura, 334 (51.4%) in Bagalkot, and 644 (61.1%) in Belagavi districts, with a significant portion referred by government hospitals. High HIV prevalence was linked to adults aged 25-49 years of age; the number of people with HIV was high among daily wage workers and individuals with multiple sexual partners compared to married and educated people. Newly diagnosed discordant couples ranged from 129 (12.2%) in Belagavi to 133 (18.4%) in Vijayapura districts. Most patients were on first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART), with loss to follow-up attributed to system negligence and poor compliance. Conclusion Key determinants of high HIV prevalence include gender, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, and sexual behavior. Effective interventions require targeted education, improved healthcare services, robust surveillance, and strengthened collaboration among stakeholders.
RESUMEN
Introduction: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) have remained an unresolved public health problem in India. In this survey, we have estimated the prevalence of IDD among 6-12 years of school children in rural areas of north Karnataka, India and estimated the prevalence of low iodine content (<15 ppm) in salt at the household level and urine iodine excretion in this population. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, we recruited 16,827 children between 6 and 12 years of age through multistage sampling from six districts. Goitre was examined clinically for all children. Household-level salt iodine estimation and urinary iodine estimation were carried out among a subset of the participants. Results: Overall prevalence of goitre was 17.1% (95% CI: 16.5, 17.7). Out of this, 76.7% (n = 2116) had Grade-1 goitre, and 23.7% (n = 656) had Grade-2 goitre. The prevalence of goitre was higher among females (17.9%, vs. male 16.4%, P < 0.05). The prevalence of low iodine content (<15 ppm) in salt was 48.5% (95%CI: 46.7, 50.3). The overall median iodine excretion in urine was 85 µg/L (IQR: 60-150 µg/L). In total, 37.2% (n = 601) had mild iodine deficiency, 5.2% (n = 84) had moderate deficiency, and 10.1% (n = 163) had severe deficiency. All parameters showed high inter- and intradistrict variations. Conclusion: North Karnataka has a high goitre prevalence. Low use of iodized salt can be a major reason for the high prevalence of the condition. Ensuring the availability of iodized salt in this region and periodic surveillance to measure the impact of the programme should be the priority in this region.