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HIV/AIDS Stigma, Youth and the Private Sector in India

HIV/AIDS Stigma, Youth and the Private Sector in India. Indian Business Trust for HIV / AIDS Confederation of Indian Industry IBT / CII. India has an economic growth rate of 8.5% and is a leading destination for FDI The private sector contributes about two-thirds of India’s GDP

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HIV/AIDS Stigma, Youth and the Private Sector in India

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  1. HIV/AIDS Stigma, Youthandthe Private Sector in India Indian Business Trust for HIV / AIDS Confederation of Indian Industry IBT / CII

  2. India has an economic growth rate of 8.5% and is a leading destination for FDI • The private sector contributes about two-thirds of India’s GDP • 60% of GDP comes from the services sector • The organized sector employs 8% of the workforce

  3. However, • 5.2 million believed to be infected with HIV/AIDS • The prevalence rate is 0.91%, yet India has the second highest number of people living with AIDS • 90% of those infected are in the productive age group of 15-49 years • Four States with high economic growth rates are among the six with high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates

  4. About CII 1996 CII begins work on HIV/AIDS 1999 Develops an HIV/AIDS Policy for the business sector 2000 Sets up the Indian Business Trust for HIV/AIDS (IBT) Milestones Health Smart Card, 2005 Corporate ART Centers, 2007 Goal 6,500 CII members companies with sustainable HIV/AIDS workplace programs Red Ribbon Campaign

  5. Some innovative corporate projects • ACC - first corporate ART centre • Tata Steel - corporate training programs include their HIV/AIDS workplace program • Modicare - established and manages a VCTC in a public hospital • Standard Chartered Bank - an e-learning program about HIV/AIDS and “Living with HIV/AIDS Champions” • Satyam Foundation - works with the community on HIV/AIDS

  6. Contributing Factors for Success • Strong leadership • A corporate culture that believes in social responsibility • HIV/AIDS workplace programs added onto existing social programs • Companies setting up their own foundations • Peer reinforcement through membership of CII

  7. The IT Industry* • The IT industry contributes around 4.8% of India’s GDP • Annual revenues for the FY 2005-06 were over USD 36 billion • Has achieved a year-on-year growth of 34% in the exports of IT and ITES products and services • IT software and services industry has over 1.3 million highly qualified employees *Information Courtesy NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies)

  8. The IT Industry Distribution by Size and Ownership* • Large companies: 10.5% • Medium Companies: 11% • Small Companies: 54.5% • Service providers: 3.5% • Multinational companies: 21% * NASSCOM

  9. The IT Industry Membership by cities More than 65% of NASSCOM’s membership base operates in high prevalence States* * NASSCOM

  10. Why focus on the IT sector? • A young workforce, between the ages of 21-45 years, with significant disposable income • Away from traditionally restrictive families, and “partying hard” • New social freedoms make them vulnerable to contracting the virus, resulting in a new risk category • 7% of 1,300 adults in a survey reported having more than five sexual partners* • Misperception that educated people do not contract HIV/AIDS • No macro study yet of HIV/AIDS and IT sector * Wall Street Journal 8/9/06

  11. Stigma • Pre-existing prejudicesreinforce stigma of HIV/AIDS • A conservative society responds to HIV/AIDS with fear, denial, discrimination, ostracism • Fear of discrimination leads to denial • Stigma affects women and families • In the workplace, fear of loss of employment • Testing for HIV/AIDS: a complex issue • Inadequate knowledge and false beliefs are responsible for stigma

  12. Youth • 35% new infections took place among those below age of 25 • One third of India’s population is in this age group • A recent study* revealed that, despite strict parental supervision and societal norms, 30% of young men and 10% of young women indulged in unmarried relationships • Another study** reveals that, despite a growing HIV/AIDS epidemic, many young people have unprotected sex • In the BPO sector, a majority of employees are around the age of 25 years * Population Council of India ** National Institute of Health and Family Welfare

  13. Youth • Increasingly, youth is emerging as the new high risk group • Young people do not have reliable sources of information on reproductive health • YUVA (Youth Unite for Victory on Aids), a national initiative to disseminate HIV/AIDS prevention information and action messages: for urban youth - interactive YUVA website, FAQs, E-counseling for rural youth - youth clubs and youth development centers • However, six States have plans to ban sex education for adolescents* * Reuters 17/5/07

  14. HIV/AIDS Prevention in the IT Sector • An educated workforce, hence, easier to provide information • New forms of communication (e.g., chat forums) can be used, for interactive communication and privacy • A dynamic sector, where companies have enlightened leadership that embraces prevention activities for employees • Companies willing to extend their participation in HIV/AIDS programs by working with the community • Especially in the innovative use of technology to provide health education for youth in general

  15. Business has an unparalleled opportunity to use its expertise, influence, and acumen in the fight to end HIV/AIDS by intensifying prevention efforts through workplace programs, targeted behavior change marketing campaigns, and strengthened advocacy to reduce stigma and discrimination. www.indianbusinesstrust.org

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