Marriage, monogamy and HIV: a profile of HIV-infected women in south India

TLDR

The study aims to direct HIV prevention and intervention toward married, monogamous Indian women whose low perceived risk masks vulnerability tied to their husbands’ behavior. The authors retrospectively analyzed 134 HIV‑positive women at a South Indian HIV/AIDS centre to describe their socio‑demographics, risk factors, and initial clinical presentations. The cohort had a mean age of 29, was predominantly housewives (81%) and married (95%), with 89% reporting heterosexual sex as the sole risk factor and 88% practicing monogamy; most were of reproductive age, half presented asymptomatically, underscoring the risk of vertical transmission and the importance of partner‑based early detection.

Abstract

A retrospective study was conducted on 134 HIV-infected females evaluated at an HIV/AIDS centre in south India to characterize their socio-demographics, HIV risk factors and initial clinical presentations. The mean age was 29 years; 81% were housewives; 95% were currently or previously married; 89% reported heterosexual sex as their only HIV risk factor; and 88% reported a history of monogamy. The majority were of reproductive age, thus the potential for vertical transmission of HIV and devastating impacts on families is alarming. Nearly half of these women initially presented asymptomatically implying that partner recruitment can enable early HIV detection. Single partner heterosexual sex with their husband was the only HIV risk factor for the majority of women. HIV prevention and intervention strategies need to focus on married, monogamous Indian women whose self-perception of HIV risk may be low, but whose risk is inextricably linked to the behaviour of their husbands.