PANAJI
Goa's HIV/AIDS statistics for 2024 have a silver lining much to the relief of health officials overseeing the programme to contain it: new HIV cases among the young adult age demographic have reversed and dropped during the year.
In 2023, this younger age demographic (25-34 years) had sharply increased sending alarm bells among the DHS echelons.
Health officials overseeing the Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) said the number infected with HIV in the 25-34 age group in 2024 has reduced and attributed the trend to more awareness.
According to official data, 260 new HIV cases were reported in 2023 of which the 25-34 age demographic accounted for the most number: ninety-seven (37.3 per cent). However, a year later in 2024, cases in this age group dropped by nearly seven per cent and of the total 246 new HIV cases reported 76 were in the 25-34 age group (30.9 per cent).
Now the 35 to 49 age group is the most affected accounting for 83 cases which is nearly 33.7 per cent of the total 246 cases reported working out to a 6.7 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
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'Unsafe sex' remains top reason
PANAJI: Unsafe sex remains the single most common cause for contracting HIV as per the voluntary disclosure by the affected. Between 2009 and 2023 between 90 and 97 per cent of those affected had revealed that they suspect unsafe sex to be the cause and in 2024 this ratio has marginally increased to 97.2 per cent.
