Abstract

PIP: This paper reports upon the prevalence of HIV infection among 84 men and 36 women who attended a STD clinic operated by the Venerology Department of the Government General Hospital in Madras, India, during July-September 1993. HIV serostatus was determined and confirmed using ELISA and Western blot tests. 99% of the men were VDRL reactive, 74% reported a history of sex with multiple partners, seven men reported being intercourse receptive homosexuals, and only two men were circumcised. All of the women were VDRL reactive, 28% reported having sex with multiple partners, and 14% were prostitutes. HIV antibody was detected in 22.5% of VDRL reactive STD patients. Overall, 55% of the patients had genital ulcer disease and 13% were diagnosed as having syphilis.