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Sarkaritel.com News and Features
HIV infections reduce
household incomes 10 percent: Study
New Delhi, December 22, 2006
The problem of HIV and its chronic consequences have caused
ripples across the spectrum spreading its tentacles not only
within households but also in the corporate sector. The
findings of a study on the Socio-Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS
on Households reveal that HIV infections reduce household
incomes by as much as 10 percent, with the impact being
especially severe on those engaged in agricultural labour.
Two-thirds of households surveyed, and 77 percent of those
in agriculture labour, suffered this loss of income. In
addition, unemployment among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
virtually increased to 9.8 percent from 3.6 between the time
they were tested and surveyed. HIV/AIDS also increases the
work load on the elderly and girl children.
HIV households apparently spend 400 percent more than
non-HIV households on medical expenses and have a lower
per-capita outlay on education. The NCAER survey also shows
that HIV households are higher borrowers than non-HIV ones,
with 46 percent having taken a loan in the past one year; this
is nearly twice the number of non-HIV households.
The corporate sector is facing the heat with growing number
of IV cases. Therefore companies need to find ways to persuade
employees to reveal their HIV status. This is possible if
companies assure their employees that there will be no
discrimination or loss of employment, are educated about the
disease and work with vendors, suppliers and neighboring
communities to raise awareness about the disease. While close
to 700 companies have already signed their commitment to this
policy, others are quickly following.
Since the infections are in majority among those in the
productive age group of 15-19 years, companies can contribute
to checking the spread of HIV/AIDS by implementing this policy
in the Workplace programme, raising awareness among their
vendors, suppliers, truckers and the immediate communities.
Companies can start with creating awareness and prevention.
The second step, is working with government agencies to
provide diagnostic and medical facilities in their own medical
centres. The third is counseling employees to overcome social
stigma and discrimination against PLWHA.
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