New Delhi: According to the National Family and Health Survey-3, the HIV prevalence rate in country is 0.28 per cent, but the National AIDS Control Organization claimed the rate at 0.36 per cent several months ago.

Men have higher prevalence rate with 0.36 per cent, than the women with 0.22 per cent. For both men and women, the prevalence is highest in the 30-34 year age group and the rate is 40 percent more in the cities than in rural areas.

NFHS-3 carried out the survey district-wise, community-based for the first time and it is independent of sentinel surveillance system used by the NACO.

The HIV testing samples of more than 1,00,000 women and men in age group of 15-49 were taken for the survey.

In Tamil Nadu, the prevalence rate is higher among women, while across the country it is higher among men than women. The infection rates vary from 1.13 per cent in Manipur, 0.97 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, 0.34 per cent in Tamil Nadu, and 0.07 percent in Uttar Pradesh.

It was concluded that only 61 per cent of women and 84 per cent of men of 15-49 years had heard of AIDS. About 7 out of 10 men know each of the ABC prevention methods – abstinence, being faithful and condoms as compared to only 4 in 10 women.

Only 38 per cent of women and 61 per cent of men know that a healthy-looking person could be infected.