Truck Drivers & HIV/AIDS

This book is based on original research data, primary data, collected by researchers on the subject Truck Drivers & HIV/AIDS (Status-quo). India has one of the largest road networks in the world, involving millions of drivers and helpers. Truck drivers spend long periods of time away from home, and it is common practice for them to have relations with sex workers while on the road. 24-34% of truck drivers in various surveys have reported engaging in sex with commercial sex workers. Sometimes, this occurs at roadside 'dhabas', which act as both brothels and hotels for truck drivers. In other cases, drivers stop to pick up women by the side of the road, and transport them to another area after they have had sex with them. Both truck drivers and sex workers move from area to area, often unaware that they are infected with HIV. "There is no entertainment. It is day-in-day-out driving... When they stop, they drink, dine and have sex with women. Then they transfer HIV from urban to rural settings."