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Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, Syphilis, and Chlamydia Among Adults Seeking Treatment for a Mental Disorder in Southern India

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Abstract

This study estimated the prevalence, and identified the correlates, of HIV, chlamydia, syphilis, and Hepatitis B among patients seeking treatment for a mental disorder in India. Patients (n = 948) submitted a blood sample for serologic testing and participated in a brief interview. Lifetime prevalence rates were nearly 2% for HIV, 10% for chlamydia, 3% for Hepatitis B, and 3% for syphilis; 15% of patients had evidence of at least one infection. Bivariate associations between infection status and patient characteristics, including age, gender, psychiatric diagnosis, did not reveal any consistent risk profile. Instead, behavioral characteristics (i.e., multiple partners, exchanging sex for money, and engagement in anal sex) were associated with infection status. Recommendations for the sexual health care of psychiatric patients in India are provided.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants R01-MH54929 and K02-MH01582 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Michael P. Carey. We gratefully acknowledge the patients for their participation; the therapists and administrators at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences for their support; Drs. Willo Pequegnat, Juan Ramos, and Ellen Stover for their encouragement; and the Health Improvement Project team for their contributions to this work.

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Author notes

  1. Dan J. Neal

    Present address: Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, 430 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, NY, 13244-2340, USA

    Michael P. Carey & Dan J. Neal

  2. Departments of Psychiatry and Neurovirology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India

    V. Ravi, Prabha S. Chandra & Anita Desai

Authors
  1. Michael P. Carey
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  2. V. Ravi
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  3. Prabha S. Chandra
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  4. Anita Desai
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  5. Dan J. Neal
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Correspondence to Michael P. Carey.

Additional information

SUPPORT: R01-MH54929 and K02-MH01582 from the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Carey, M.P., Ravi, V., Chandra, P.S. et al. Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, Syphilis, and Chlamydia Among Adults Seeking Treatment for a Mental Disorder in Southern India. AIDS Behav 11, 289–297 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9134-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9134-2

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