TARGET POPULATION
Living on the margins of social mainstream, this group faces an ambiguous existence. Hijras are a very cohesive and well organized group living in established and strictly adhered to hierarchy. They do have rules and codes of conduct and good network with an excellent information system. They, generally, prefer staying in groups.
In tricity, Hizras have some occupation or the other, whether full time or part time, in addition to sex work. Some Hijras, they just sing and dance and collect money. Some Hijras work as full time sex workers and are much better off than their female counterparts. They have greater freedom too.
Some are well off and have a middle class like life style. Their earnings are managed by the ‘ GURU ‘ or the ‘ Leader ‘ of the group who provides boarding, lodging and takes care of the daily needs of all those living in the group. Part of the earnings are shared by all. Though they rules and codes regarding sexual activities, most indulge either in multiple partner sex in serially monogamous relationships or though commercial sex work itself. They mostly indulge in anal or oral sex. Motivation is both economic and their personal need to satisfy their urge.
Their clientele comprises mostly those who enjoy anal sex or want to experiment and look for variety in sexual experiences without inhibitions, like the college students. Their annual festivals draw both Hijras and their customers in large congregations. These occasions can be used to reach them with information.
The transgender group are bult around ‘ Gender” The categories within are :-
• Akwa Hijra :- Akwa means in preparation for castration after rites between Guru and Chela.
• Nirwan :- Ritually castrated men who are then a part of the ritual ‘ Houses called GHARANAS.
• Kothi: This term used to describe males who show varying degrees of femininity, take the female role in their sexual relationships with other men and are involved mainly in receptive, anal or oral sex with men.
• Double Decker: Those males who both insert and receive during penetrative sexual encounters (anal or oral sex) with other men.
NEED ASSESSMENT SURVEY
In an endeavor to understand the nature of Hijras behaviour and regarding there knowledge about HIV/AIDS, STD/RTI and consistency in condom usage. Family Planning Association of India, Panchkula branch team with team leader Dr. Avnish Jolly and Ashwani Kumar initiated need assessment survey in the month of March to November 2010. In need assessment survey approximately 10% of the group already identified was covered. The need assessment survey was carried on 100 Hijras in try city. According to interviewed hijras 1000-1200 Hijras population are living in Tricity.
It was decided to use Performa for generating useful data. protocol/questionnaires was prepared for the need assessment survey. Each question was provided with a set of options. Four Focused group discussion was also conducted for the qualitative study of needs among Hijras.
Data collected randomly from following sites of Hijras
• Panchkula
• Pinjore
• Manimajra
• Colony No. 4
• Ramdarbar
• MauliJagron
• Derabassi
• Mohali
• Ropar
• Kharar
• Maloya
• Daddumajra
• Sector 25,
• Kalka
SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF HIJRAS
Nativity and Current Residence :-
N=100
Status %
Born and brought up in Tricity 30%
Migrant to tricity 70%
NATIVE STATES
N=100
State %
Chandigarh 10
Punjab 13
Haryana 12
Uttar Pardesh 12
Bihar 8
West Bangal 13
Tamilnaadu 10
Maharasatra 7
Karnatka 6
Goa 2
Rajasthan 7
AGE
AGE %
18-20 4
21-25 8
26-30 8
31-35 16
36-40 15
41-45 28
46-60 16
60+ 05
EDUCATION LEVEL
N=100
Education Level %
Illiterate 14
Can just sign 18
Primary 14
Middle 10
Secondary 08
Higher Secondary 12
Graduate 18
Post Graduate 06
MARITAL STATUS AND ARRANGE OF STAY:-
N=100
Marital status %
Unmarried 84%
Married 06%
Divorced 10
ARRANGEMENT OF STAY
N=100
Stay %
Own Family 1
Gurus 86
Male Spouses 8
Alone 5
OCCUPATION AND MONTHLY INCOME
N=100
Occupation %
Singing Begging 48%
Self employed 02%
Commercial Sex 38
Unemployed 12
MONTHLY INCOME :-
Monthly income %
< Rs. 3000 24
Rs. 3000-6000 21
Rs. 6000-12000 29
Rs.12001-15000 15
Rs.15001-18000 09
Rs. 18001-25000 + 02
KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE OF HIJRAS TOWARDS HIV/AIDS:-
The studies pertaining to HIV/AIDS also measure the knowledge and attitude of target population. It is assumed that if a person has appropriate knowledge regarding the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Knowledge about HIV
What is HIV %
An insect 15
Foreign Germs 3
A fatal disease 40
A microorganism that causes AIDS 18
Don’t Know 24
TRANSMISSION OF HIV
Modes of transmission Yes % No % Total
By Mosquito bite 46 54 100
Through sex without condom 33 67 100
By kissing 25 75 100
Infected mother to child 10 90 100
By using the same toile by using HIV positive 65 35 100
Via infected blood and blood products 37 63 100
By residing with an HIV positive person 70 30 100
By hugging infected person 99 1 100
Infected syringes 45 55 100
PREVENTION OF HIV
Ways of prevention %
By avoiding penetrative sex 20
By using condom during penetrative sex 45
By using sterilized needle syringes 40
Masturbation 2
By testing blood 10
KNOLEDGE REGARDING AIDS
What is AIDS %
A condition where body system break down 22
A killer disease 35
A deadly virus 05
Maharog 15
DK 15
AIDS means life is over 08
Wheather AIDS means Death
N=100
Response %
Yes 90
No 06
DK 04
ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIV+ VE PEOPLE
N=100
Response %
Break of the relationship 40
Continue the relationship but not have sex 37
Continue the relationship while practicing safe sex 8
DK 15
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR HIV +ve Hijras
Support Services %
HIV testing facilities 22
Counselling facilities for prevention 37
Hospices for HIV+ve 64
Provide medicines 2
Give him sufficient rest 1
Give him money 3
Should practice meditation 1
Provide support and love 2
Multiple response
SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AND CONDOM USAGE:-
Frequency of sex with men:-
N=100
Sex %
Always 55
Sometimes 43
Rarely 02
SEX PARTNER IN LAST ONE MONTH
N=100
Male Partners %
1 15
2-4 40
5-8 18
9-15 18
16-25 05
26-35 02
36-40 02
Sources of meeting sex partners
The most popular sources were friends, followed by cruising in public toilets and soliciting. Railway Stations, public toilets, parks and even public transport served as meeting places for sex partners.
Place of Sex
Places %
Home 08
Public Toilet 26
Parks 12
Friend’s House 10
Rent a Room 08
Railway Tracks 5
Behind Bushes 08
In the Hotel 05
Terrace 20
In the car 02
Hospitals 03
Any Lonely places 05
Cinema Hall 05
Multiple Places
SEX IN EXCHANGE OF CASH OR KIND:-
Yes No
37 63
Substance Use Prior To Sex
The state of mind plays an important role in determining a person’s control on self. Therefore, the contribution of intoxicating drinks and substances in inducing risk behaviour has been increasingly recognized.
In this section an attempt has been made to gauge substance use prior to sex among the MSMs
Consumption of Liquor before sex
N=100
Yes 67 67%
No 33 33%
Quantity of Alcohol Consumed Before Sex
N= 67
Quantity %
Quarter 28
Two pegs or less 42
More than two pegs 30
Quantity of alcohol consumed is an important factor in affecting the state of mind. hence the respondents were asked about the quantity of alcohol, which they usually consumed before sex. About half of them said that they consumed a quarter. This was considered a situation of ‘alcohol abuse’ in which a person lost control over his behaviour.
Availability of Condoms and Usage related Knowledge
Whether condoms easy to access
Yes No
32 68
Reason for condom not being accessible
N=68
Condom are not available 10
Too costly 3
I do not like 42
I do not use condom 8
I feel embarrassed to use condoms 5
Correct steps of wearing condoms
Aware 05%
Unaware 95%
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND TREATMENT SEEKING WHETHER SUFFERED FROM STIs IN LAST 6 MONTHS.
Yes No
34 66
Symptoms of Problems :-
Problems %
Greenish Yellowish discharge 10
Blisters and ulcers 12
Redness and swelling 8
Burning 04
Types of treatment:-
Home remedies 12
Self medication 05
Allopathic doctor 03
Alternative system of medicine 07
From Jhaar Phoonk 07
Misconceptions regarding STIs
• They make Cannabis pills with Arsenic and lead, which they believe can cure all diseases.
• Semen consumption keep them fit.
• Most customers feel HIV/AIDS STIs is not related to Hijras. It’s a problem of the female sex workers.
Approach towards HIV testing :-
Tested for HIV %
Yes 99
No 01
Test Status
N=99
Reactive 21
Non Reactive 78
STIGMA AND Discrimination Faced :-
Stigma Discrimination faced %
Yes 78
No 22
Stigma Discrimination Faced By :-
%
Home 12
Client 18
Police 08
Pimp 02
Politician 2
NGOs 2
Hospital staff 14
Guru 4
House Owner 05
Employer 05
School Collages 10
Administration 15
Multiple Stigma and discrimination attached
ABOUT DRUGS:-
Involvement in Drug paddling:-
N=100
%
Yes 18
No 82
FIRST IMPORTANCE:-
First preference %
Old Age Pension 78
Ration Card/ID Card 55
Education of children 44
Employment 55
Health facilities 65
Passport 45
Bank account 35
Multiple preferences.
SUICIDAL TENDENCY:-
N=100
%
Yes 25
No 75
Reason for Suicidal Tendency:-
Neglect from family, stigma and discrimination by Social structure, unemployment, discrimination by Gurus, Depression, anxiety etc.