The rising prevalence of HIV among pregnant women in rural India is of great concern. Prenatal voluntary counseling and HIV testing (VCT) is critical to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). We surveyed 202 pregnant women attending a rural antenatal clinic in Southern India to investigate HIV-related knowledge, attitudes toward infant feeding practices, and perceived benefits and risks of HIV testing. Of the total of 202 women surveyed, 189 women (94%) had heard of HIV/AIDS and 60% of them had relatively good knowledge regarding risk factors for HIV transmission. However, 48% did not know that there are "means to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission." If women were not to breastfeed her baby, negative attitudes expected from the partner would include 84% thinking that that the mother is harming the baby, 78% thinking she is not a good mother, 74% thinking she has HIV, and 66% thinking she has been unfaithful. Ninety-seven percent of women did not perceive themselves at risk for HIV and only 57% had been tested for HIV. Although, 85% of women expressed their willingness to be tested, most were concerned about confidentiality and disclosing HIV serostatus because of fear of negative reactions from their husbands, parents, and community. Many social and cultural barriers confront pregnant women when they decide to opt for HIV testing. If VCT and PMTCT interventions are to be successful, urgent attention must be focused on education, development of innovative culturally appropriate interventions that empower women to make decisions about HIV testing, involvement of men, and addressing stigma and discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS.

Many recent studies have evaluated the relation between periodontitis and pregnancy complications. This study aimed to examine the association between preeclampsia and periodontitis in Indian women. A total of 130 pregnant women were enrolled between 26-32 weeks of gestation. Oral health examinations were performed at recruitment and again within 48 hours of delivery to determine the presence and/or progression of periodontitis in all subjects. Pocket depth, clinical attachment loss (CAL), and gingival index were measured in all subjects. There was significant (p < 0.05) difference between the preeclampsia and normotensive groups in the distribution of periodontitis both at recruitment and after delivery. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that periodontitis both at enrolment (OR = 5.78, 95% CI 2.41-13.89) as well as within 48 hours of delivery (OR = 20.15, 95% CI 4.55-89.29), may be associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia.

HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns in India should focus on public education, stigma reduction, promotion of condom use, and risk-reduction behaviors in urban and rural communities targeted toward young adults.

Adolescents and youth need information in order to make such responsible choices in terms of sexual behaviour/relationship. They also need to integrate and personalize this information or knowledge so that they can make healthy choices. Young people learn a great deal from each other and by sharing ideas and experiences amongst themselves. Peer influence is a great motivating factor in the adoption of specific behaviour patterns. Therefore, correct information and values imparted to one group of young people will be passed on to the other young people. Young people who have developed greater self-esteem and mutually supportive relationships are less vulnerable to peer and other pressures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study, STUDY PERIOD: The study was carried out from June 2011 to December 2011. RESULTS: 77.83% of participants had heard of HIV/AIDS, among them only 74.06% of participants had written correct abbreviation of HIV and 83.56% knew that causative agent of HIV/AIDS as virus, 75.26% had written correct abbreviation of AIDS. 77.07% of participants gave correct response HIV/AIDS awareness symbol as red ribbon. 39.37% of participants knew how to prevent HIV/AIDS. 44.95% participants knew that mosquito bite from HIV/AIDS infected person will not transmit HIV virus. 57.62% of participants knew that IV drug abuse will spread HIV virus. 87.63% of participants knew that HIV/AIDS status can be confirmed by blood test. 56.56% of participants who knew that sharing a meal with HIV/AIDS infected person will not transmit HIV virus. 57.47% of participants who knew that using public toilets will not spread HIV virus. CONCLUSION: Education is currently the only means of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The education which is needed to protect adolescents from the virus and subsequent disease involves changes at many levels. Individuals and systems have to make changes in their thinking, behaviour, attitudes, beliefs and policies.

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