Communities, Tradition and Politics of Risk: A Study of HIV I AIDS in Coastal Andhra

Abstract

Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is recogmzed as a pubhc health discourse as well as a developmental Issue. The growing prevalence of HI VIA IDS poses a senous social and economIC threat It is esbmated that about 5 7 mtlhon people live With HlV infectlon m India and one of every eight people With HIV mfectlon [Stembrook 2007' 1089]. Given India's large populatIOn, HIV/AIDS call assume threatenmg proportIOns. The other co-related factor IS that It affects the country's economic development and growth smce more number of youth are mcreasmgly gettmg affected by the disease It IS m thiS context, that one needs to examme how Indian state responded to the emergence of HIVI AIDS m India, how policy deCISions With regard to HIVI AIDS were made and the role played by the intemabonal donor agencies smcethe mceptlon ofthe·dlsease mInd,"