Socio-Economic Impact of HIV and AIDS in Tamil nadu

The work force
participation rate
regarding age
groups was higher
in HIV households
income in both HIV and non-HIV
categories. Except for self-employed nonagriculturists,
the average income of HIV
households in different occupational
groups is less than that of non-HIV
households. Inspite of a difference in the
average annual income of HIV and non-
HIV households, the per capita income
of the urban samples in both households
is nearly the same.
Analysis revealed that the work force
participation rate among the different
age groups was higher in HIV households.
The work force participation was lower in
non-HIV among all age groups-children
of 0-14 years, 15-60 years as well as people
above 60 years. It was also observed that
the workforce participation rate was the
highest for PLWHA in the 15-60 years
age group.
Of the 410 HIV households in the sample,
475 PLWHA in the age group of 18-60
years were interviewed in detail. While
314 reported being currently employed,
43 had changed their jobs after being
detected positive. However, only seven
of them had received benefits at the time
of changing the job with the average
benefit being Rs. 16,571. The prevalence
of HIV and AIDS is higher among working
members of the HIV households across
all occupational groups. This was seen
in the occupational and sectoral pattern
of employment of PLWHA before and
after being detected positive. Also, the
percentage of the unemployed among
men increased from 1 percent before the
test to 17 percent after the test. Among
women, this percentage increased from
2.4 percent to 5.3 percent.
Of the 475 PLWHA that were interviewed,
123 (32.7 %) reported a need to be looked
after, and 128 people were involved in
taking care of them of which 74 were
employed. However, no one had to give
up his or her job to attend to the HIV
affected person.
It was reported by 164 PLWHA employed
that for the one year before the interview,
there was loss of income due to absence
from work because of ill health. The
average income lost was Rs. 4,214. Loss
of some fringe benefits and additional
amount spent on hired labourers was also
reported. With these, the income lost as a
percentage of current household income
was 10.53. Estimates were made of the
loss of income to those forced to withdraw
from work on being detected HIV-positive.
The number of such PLWHA was 53 and
they were spread over all occupational
groups except cultivators and suchlike.
The average loss of income was Rs. 24,095
per person. While the average income
lost as a percentage of current household
income amounted to 84.2 percent, there
was a great variance among the different
categories of occupation. Further the
loss of income of the caregivers currently
employed was estimated at 7.09 percent
of current household income.
Impact on consumption,
savings and borrowings
Analysis of the share of expenditure
of both households revealed the
proportion of expenditure of HIV
households on all items other than
healthcare and rent was less than
that of the non-HIV households. The
proportion of expenditure on medical
care by HIV households was found to be
a little more than double than non-HIV
households. The salaried class reported
maximum average consumption
expenditure between both HIV and
non-HIV households. However, on the
whole, average per capita per month
expenditure of the HIV households was
slightly more than that of the non-HIV
households. This was in spite of their
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Socio-Economic Impact of HIV and AIDS in Tamil Nadu, India