Socio-Economic Impact of HIV and AIDS in Tamil nadu

4.6 Observations
The prevalence of HIV(within HIV
households) is higher among working
people than among those who are not in
the work force, as also seen in terms of the
work force participation rates calculated
from the sample. This is a matter of
concern from the point of view of the
economic impact of the epidemic on the
household as well at a more aggregated
level. For the HIV households it has
resulted in slightly higher prevalence of
child labour as compared to non-HIV
households. Also there is higher work
force participation rate among the elderly
in the HIV households. This raises the
question of old age security as well as the
education of the children.
The loss of income for the HIV households
varies across occupational and income
groups. Of particular concern is the
status of wage labourers who do not
have any social security and therefore,
are hard hit by any episode of AIDS
related illness. The main impact is felt
through the loss of job or leave/absence
from work of the PLWHA. It may once
again be emphasised that it is mainly ill
health that forces most of the PLWHA to
give up their jobs. The sample consisted
of PLWHA in all stages of infection
and only those in the 3rd or 4th stage
would be too ill to work. Further, some
households have more than one PLWHA
in the work force. Hence, as more and
more people go into the 3rd or 4th stage
of infection the impact would be more
pronounced.
Although the aggregate economic impact
of the infection may not appear to be
much, the impact at the household
level is extremely serious as seen in
the present sample, which consists of
households belonging to poor sections
of the economy.
46 Socio-Economic Impact of HIV and AIDS in Tamil Nadu, India