Addressing sexual and reproductive health in India

The Alliance has been addressing the increasing feminisation of HIV in India with a project to meet the sexual and reproductive health and HIV-related needs of women in low-income settings. Since its inception in February 2006, the programme has reached over 19,000 women living with and vulnerable to HIV, working with 19 implementing partners in six states to make sexual and reproductive health services accessible, and making referrals to health, legal and social welfare service providers.

Women in India are relegated to lower status than men, and their vulnerability to HIV is increased as they are denied access to education, financial resources, health care and protection from violence. Women living with HIV face even greater stigma and discrimination than their male counterparts and are often left to care for husbands, children and other family members.

In 2006, the Alliance reached a wide range of women in different settings with HIV and sexual and reproductive health information – including migrant workers living in urban slums, rural farmers, industrial labourers, sex workers, injecting drug users, adolescent street children and extras in the film industry.

Programme achievements

  • Outreach workers conducted 38,213 home visits to pass on sexual and reproductive health and HIV information.
  • Over 38,000 discussions took place in group meetings, which included condom negotiation, sexual and reproductive tract infections (RTIs), antiretroviral treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, contraception, pregnancy, and laws and rights.
  • 4,028 referrals were made to STI and RTI services.
  • 1,407 referrals were made for pregnancy care services.
  • 1,186 women were linked to social service schemes.
  • Programme partners supported 421 women to access legal advice, with 281 receiving free legal support services.
  • Alliance India also translated into five local languages a flipbook for community workers to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of women living with HIV. The book covers family planning, antenatal and postnatal care of women living with HIV, and sexual and reproductive health issues.