HIV/AIDS in Village India: Issues and Challenges

The most affected by the spread of HIV/AIDS into the rural areas of India are illiterate women and those among the lower socioeconomic strata. The major objective of the study is to find out the level of awareness, issues and challenges faced by the rural people and to contribute to the policymakers by exploring the common issues and challenges in implementing AIDS programme. The data were collected from the rural people comprising of both males and females of Naxalbari block on an empirical study using structured interview schedule method. Due to lack of education, the disease is rapidly progressing among adolescents in rural and urban areas of India. The study has found that though most of the people know about HIV/AIDS, they have lack of knowledge about different policies of government and also different ways of its transmission. Further, the major issues and challenges faced by the rural people as found in this study are lack of comprehensive sex education, stigma and discrimination faced by the affected person and his/her family members and limited access to healthcare facilities available in the rural area along with mental health challenges.