HIV-related risk behaviors among psychiatric inpatients in India

The study explored patterns of risk behavior and knowledge about HIV and AIDS among patients in an inpatient psychiatric facility in south India. Fifty-nine consecutive patients admitted to a state psychiatric hospital were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. Fifty-one percent had a history of recent risk behavior, and 86 percent had inadequate knowledge about AIDS. The most common high-risk behavior was unprotected heterosexual intercourse with a high-risk partner. There was no correlation between knowledge and high-risk behavior. The findings underscore the need to specifically tailor intervention programs.