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Abstract Background Avahan, the India AIDS Initiative has been a partner supporting targeted interventions of high risk populations under India’s National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) since 2004 in the state of Maharashtra. This paper presents an assessment of the Avahan program among female sex workers (FSWs) in Maharashtra, its coverage, outcomes achieved and their association with Avahan program. Methods An analytical framework based on the Avahan evaluation design was used, addressing assessment questions on program implementation, intermediate outcomes and association of outcomes with Avahan. Data from routine program monitoring, two rounds of cross-sectional Integrated Behavioural and Biological Assessments (IBBAs) conducted in 2006 (Round 1- R1) and 2009 (Round 2 – R2) and quality assessments of program clinics were used. Bi-variate and multivariate analysis were conducted using the complex samples module in SPSS 15® (IBM, Somers NY). Results The Avahan program achieved coverage of over 66% of FSWs within four years of implementation. The IBBA data showed increased contact by peers in R2 compared to R1 (AOR:2.34; p=0.001). Reported condom use with clients increased in R2 and number of FSWs reporting zero unprotected sex acts increased from 76.2% (R1) to 94.6% (R2) [AOR: 5.1, p=0.001]. Significant declines were observed in prevalence of syphilis (RPR) (15.8% to 10.8%; AOR:0.54; p=0.001), chlamydia (8% to 6.2%; AOR:.0.65; p=0.010) and gonorrohoea (7.4% to 3.9; AOR:.0.60; p=0.026) between R1 and R2. HIV prevalence increased (25.8% to 27.5%; AOR:1.29; p=0.04). District-wise analysis showed decline in three districts and increase in Mumbai and Thane districts. FSWs exposed to Avahan had higher consistent condom use with occasional (94.3% vs. 90.6%; AOR: 1.55; p=0.04) and regular clients (92.5% vs. 86.0%; AOR: 1.95, p=0.001) compared to FSWs unexposed to Avahan. Decline in high titre syphilis was associated with Avahan exposure. Conclusion The Avahan program was scaled up and achieved high coverage of FSWs in Maharashtra amidst multiple intervention players. Avahan coverage of FSWs was associated with improved safe sexual practices and declines in STIs. Prevalence of HIV increased requiring more detailed understanding of the data and, if confirmed, new approaches for HIV control.

Abstract Background Avahan, the India AIDS initiative began HIV prevention interventions in 2003 in Andhra Pradesh (AP) among high-risk groups including female sex workers (FSWs), to help contain the HIV epidemic. This manuscript describes an assessment of this intervention using the published Avahan evaluation framework and assesses the coverage, outcomes and changes in STI and HIV prevalence among FSWs. Methodology Multiple data sources were utilized including Avahan routine program monitoring data, two rounds of cross-sectional survey data (in 2006 and 2009) and STI clinical quality monitoring assessments. Bi-variate and multivariate analyses, Wald Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were used to measure changes in behavioural and biological outcomes over time and their association. Results Avahan scaled up in conjunction with the Government program to operate in all districts in AP by March 2009. By March 2009, 80% of the FSWs were being contacted monthly and 21% were coming to STI services monthly. Survey data confirmed an increase in peer educator contacts with the mean number increasing from 2.9 in 2006 to 5.3 in 2009. By 2008 free and Avahan-supported socially marketed condoms were adequate to cover the estimated number of commercial sex acts, at 45 condoms/FSW/month. Consistent condom use was reported to increase with regular (63.6% to 83.4%; AOR=2.98; p Conclusions The absence of control groups is a limitation of this study and does not allow attribution of changes in outcomes and declines in HIV and STI to the Avahan program. However, the large scale implementation, high coverage, intermediate outcomes and association of these outcomes to the Avahan program provide plausible evidence that the declines were likely associated with Avahan. Declining HIV prevalence among the general population in Andhra Pradesh points towards a combined impact of Avahan and government interventions.

Background & objectives: Injecting drug use plays a major role in HIV transmission in northeastern States of India. HIV testing is the fundamental component of HIV prevention, treatment and care; but it remains relatively low among injecting drug users (IDUs) in the northeast region of the country. We assessed the factors associated HIV testing among IDUs in the two northeastern States (Nagaland & Manipur) of India. Methods: A total of 1699 IDUs from four districts of Manipur (Churachandpur and Bishenpur) and Nagaland (Phek and Wokha) were recruited through respondent driven sampling (RDS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with ever HIV testing. Results: Only 286 (16.8%) respondents were ever tested for HIV. Factors associated with ever HIV testing were: having 5-10 years of education (AOR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.15-5.06), having >11 years of education OR: 3.96, 95% CI: 1.83-8.57), being a businessman (AOR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.14-2.85), having been contacted by HIV programme workers (AOR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.37-2.68), having received counselling services (AOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.45-2.81), having knowledge that HIV can be prevented (AOR: 4.33, 95% CI: 2.05-9.12), having self-perceived risk of HIV infection (AOR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.26-2.24) and being a resident of Churachandpur district (AOR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.36-3.75). Interpretation & conclusions: Increased uptake of HIV testing was associated with exposure to HIV programmes, knowledge of HIV prevention, self-perceived risk of HIV, and higher educational attainment. Urgent measures need to be undertaken based on these findings to promote uptake of HIV testing among the IDUs in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Injection drug users (IDUs) are generally a mobile group who engage in risky behaviour not only in their locale but also outside areas. The IDUs of the northeast region of India form the major victims of HIV/AIDS infections. Hence an attempt was made to explore their mobility pattern of networking and risky behaviour. Methods: A large cross-sectional Integrated Behavioural and Biological Assessment survey (IBBA) was conducted among 1699 IDUs in four districts (Bishnupur and Churachandpur of Manipur; Phek and Wokha of Nagaland) in the northeast region of India by India AIDS initiative, the Avahan during January and May 2006. The mobility patterns of the IDUs were viewed as two different types, mobility of networking and frequent mobility. The networking mobility has been portrayed using exploratory spatial analysis. The frequently mobile IDUs profile, risky behaviour, HIV and other infections are discussed based on the RDSAT estimates. The volume of mobility and their average movement were also studied. Results: More than 48 per cent of the IDUs had networked far and wide outside their places of residence. One fourth or more of the mobile IDUs were young, more than 35 per cent were literate, more than one fourth were unemployed and nearly 31 per cent or more were living alone. The frequently mobile IDUs risky behaviour was two times higher compared to the non-mobile IDUs (except in Phek district). The average movements of IDUs who had at least one movement inside and outside the district were higher in Wokha district. Interpretation & conclusions: The pattern of networking and the mobile IDUs risky behaviour showed an alarming signal. Mobility being a general phenomenon, the attention towards their surrogate risky factors had to be focussed to control the spatial epidemic wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Since 2003, Avahan the India AIDS Initiative, has been working with female sex workers (FSW) in Andhra Pradesh (AP), Maharashtra (MH) and Tamil Nadu (TN) using a package of preventive services. Two rounds (R1 and R2) of Integrated Behavioural and Biological Assessment (IBBA) surveys were done to measure changes in condom use and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among female sex workers (FSWs) in the three Southern States. Methods: Two rounds of bio-behavioural surveys were conducted among FSWs in selected districts of AP, MH and TN during 2005-2007 and 2009, respectively. Survey districts and methodology were consistent across rounds. Participants were selected through two stage conventional cluster sampling from fixed sites and time-location cluster sampling from floating groups. Information on sexual behaviour was collected by face-to-face interview. Participants provided urine and blood samples for testing of STIs. Results: At aggregate level, condom use at every sex act with occasional and regular clients, taken as a whole, increased from 66.8 per cent in R1 to 85.2 per cent in R2 (AOR 3.5, P<0.001). Levels of HIV and syphilis declined from 14.1 to 11.9 per cent (AOR 0.9, P<0.5) and 10.8 to 5.0 per cent (AOR 0.4, P<0.001), respectively. Odds of using condom among FSWs who availed Avahan services was significantly more than those who did not (P<0.01). Interpretation & conclusions: An increase in consistent condom use along with decrease in STIs was observed among FSWs. The increase in safer sexual practices was more among those exposed to Avahan interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]