ABSTRACT
India ranks third in the world in terms of the number of people living with HIV/ AIDS (0.3 per cent of its population) (International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and Macro International 2007). This social problem is largely restricted to core groups. In North East India, needle exchange is the primary cause of HIV/AIDS. However, in the Southern states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, the virus spreads because of sexual interactions between female sex workers (FSWs) and their male clients. In the past 20 years, the Government of India and a large network of social marketing agencies have undertaken several initiatives to promote the use of male condoms among both FSWs and Indian men. The male condoms have been manufactured to be of good quality, offered at a reasonable price, distributed widely, and promoted
persuasively. Despite these extensive efforts, usage of male condoms remains low. One of the primary reasons for this low occurrence lies in the existence of patriarchy in the Indian society. Male clients may insist that FSWs have sex without condoms and be willing to pay more for this service. Fearing the loss of clients, these already marginalized women may succumb to pressure and knowingly take huge risks with their health and lives. They may also unknowingly spread the HIV virus to their uncooperative male clients.
