An analysis of the main reasons for the continued spread of HIV

We have been aware of HIV and AIDS since the 1970s (Miller, 2012), and though there have been treatments and reduction in the number of people infected, the disease remains. The disease results in death usually following opportunistic infections as a result of AIDS destruction of the immune system, but thanks to modern medicine “many people

In the 1980s, a mysterious disease began to take the lives of Americans. With the cause unknown, a fear grew among Americans. An unusually high rate of people was becoming sick with strange and rare diseases. When experimental treatments failed to work, people died. This mysterious disease is what we now know as HIV–Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In the past thirty-five years, the HIV has taken many turns in history. Although we do not hear about HIV and AIDS now, it is still a prevalent issue in the United States and in the world.

Drug abuse is too much consumption of drugs which results in problematic consequences as a result of the excessive consumption. The issue of drug abuse has presented major controversies as to whether or not is detrimental to health and should not be used or whether people have the absolute right to do whatever they may please with their lives so long as nobody else is being affected. The abuse of drugs has not only disastrous consequences for a drug user but his or her entire family as well. In the present times, the abuse of drugs is at its peak. Particularly in the third world countries and the developing countries, individuals and specifically youth has been involved in such nefarious activities which are only ruining their lives. At the name of freedom and liberty, many countries are disseminating such a mentality that every adult is free to his or her own life styles (Regier et al., 1990).

Since the discovery of the HIV virus in 1983, there have been many precautions taken to control and prevent the spreading of this deadly disease. Helen Epstein, who is the author of “AIDS Inc,” informs her readers about the sexually transmitted disease known as the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Epstein enlightens her audience with crucial information in regards to the ruthless disease that is devouring the lives of innocent people, typically in Africa, where people are especially prone to acquiring AIDS. South Africa, having one of the highest amounts of rape crimes in the world, is also home to the highest amount of people living with HIV in the world, at about

HIV and AIDS have affected millions of people throughout the world. Since 1981, there have been 25 million deaths due to AIDS involving men, women, and children. Presently there are 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS around the world and two million die each year from AIDS related illnesses. The Center for Disease Control estimates that one-third of the one million Americans living with HIV are not aware that they have it. The earliest known case of HIV was in 1959. It was discovered in a blood sample from a man in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Looking further into the genetics of this blood sample researchers suggested that it had originated from a virus going back to the late 1940’s or early 1950’s. In 1999,

In recently, the HIV and AIDS are rapidly spread in world societies in early 1980 and found it from America in 1981. However, human societies were still not able to realize the exact reason for HIV. Each year this disease kills millions of people around the world. This virus devastated so many continents, such as Africa, North America, Latin America, and some parts of Asia. The reason why the virus has devastated lots of people was because of the lack of AIDS knowledge and education program and most serious HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world. Especially, Sub-Saharan African has high rates of HIV epidemic, “an estimated 24.7 million people were living with HIV, accounting for 71% of the global total. In the same year, there were an estimated 1.5 million new HIV infections and 1.1 million AIDS-related

19:1 in the United States and Europe; emphasis has been placed on sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (Hrdy,1987). Factors thought to influence this sexual transmission include promiscuity, and sexual practices that have been associated with increased risk of transmission of AIDS virus from male to female and from mother to babies (Hrdy,1987). In Africa, promiscuity seems to be the most important cultural factor contributing to the transmission of HIV. For example, Olivia had been sexually abused and has contracted AIDS earlier in her life. Whereas social and cultural factors are the direct cause for the transmission of HIV from pregnant women to babies in India because women would rather have babies with HIV than to be homeless, beaten or abandon if they don’t conceive children (Bilheimer,

The prospects for effective management of individuals with HIV are early dictation of the disease and identification and implementation of an evidence-based intervention that will slow the advancement of HIV to deleterious outcomes (Vervloet, Linn, Van Weert, de Bakker, Bouvy, & Dijik, 2012). HIV is a pandemic and pervasive disease that is associated with extensive mortality and morbidity. In the 1980s, HIV has claimed the lives of 33 million individuals’ and 35 million individuals are presently living with the disease nationwide. HIV attacks humans’ protective systems, and then replicates itself. As a result of this replication, the body cells thereby overwhelm the T-cells or the CD4

Even though there is a rapid advancement in medical inventions, still the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the most challenging virus that will drag the human lives to the deadly disease acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It spreads its wings all over. HIV cannot be cured, but it can be prevented. It has become the greatest life threatening disease and affects unbelievably high percent of human beings. Nowadays, besides other deadly diseases, HIV/AIDS becomes more complex and crucial health issue that challenges several medical inventions. Several contributors cause this deadly virus and disease such as promiscuity, homosexuality, female circumcision, sugar daddies, sexual crime, rape, prostitution, cultural

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) is the causative agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is characterized by a severely compromised immune system and the occurrence of life-threatening opportunistic infections. The first cases of AIDS were documented in 1981 and the isolation of HIV from a patient was described two years later.1,2 Since then, HIV/AIDS has evolved into a global pandemic. According to a report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS published in 2016, over 36.7 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and 1.1 million HIV/AIDS-related deaths as well as 2.1 million new infections occur annually.3 Due to major efforts to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and prevent new infections, the annual number of new infections is slowly decreasing in many regions of the world, including Western and Southern Africa.3 However, infection rates have remained relatively constant in North America in recent years and have increased by over 50% in other regions, such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia.3 Despite major advances in biomedical research, a vaccine or a cure remains elusive.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that cause initial HIV infection and, as the virus proliferates in the body, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV affects the immune system by exploiting, and, eventually, destroying a specific kind of immune cells. That allows for the gradual deterioration of a person’s immune system, which ultimately causes death from minor opportunistic infections, which are normally perfectly curable and generally do not cause major consequences for health. HIV has a limited range of transmission ways. It is only transmitted through the direct contact of body fluids, which include blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk [1]. This means that most of the modes of transmission include activities that are moralized by society, such as intravenous drug use and sexual contact [1]. However, it can also be transmitted through “innocent pathways”, such as during breastfeeding (mother to child) and blood transfusion. HIV is a very young, still poorly understood virus. It was first clinically observed in the summer of 1981 in San Francisco, where it was spotted as a type of sarcoma, mostly spotted in the gay population. In the beginning of the global epidemic, there was a huge misunderstanding of the disease [2]. Back then, a general sentiment about HIV was that of a “rather devastating outbreak” [2] , associated with homosexuality and drug use (to the point

HIV has been a pandemic that has affected the world relentlessly for many years in a never-ending circle. HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is the virus that is spread through certain bodily fluids and can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV attacks the immune system by destroying CD4+ T cells, which leaves the person infected with HIV vulnerable to other infections, diseases, and other complications.1 Once this virus is acquired, the human can never fully rid itself of this pathogen. If left untreated, HIV reduces the number of CD4+ cells in the body whom sole duty is to protect the body from infections. 2 Many scientists have postulated on where the virus was first introduced. It has been assumed that the virus was first encountered humans whom were hunting and eating chimpanzees in Central Africa and the virus has spread like wildfire since then. Data over the years have shown that the virus has existed within the United States since at least the mid to late 1970s. 3 No effective cure for HIV currently exist although many vaccine studies are underway around the world, but with the proper treatment and medical care provided by the medical team, HIV can be controlled and have low transmission rates. The medicine we use to treat HIV is referred to as antiretroviral therapy or ART. When a person infected HIV adheres to the medication correctly, it will allow for them to live longer and have healthier lives. 2

Although the first wave of HIV infections occurred in 1988 amongst injecting drug users, it was during 1989 – 1990 that prompted the “awakening of HIV/AIDS.” The National Advisory Committee on AIDS developed a surveillance of sentinel groups, which included sex workers, male patients with sexually transmitted infections, and blood donors. This surveillance revealed the HIV virus being transmitted rapidly through sex. From 1989-1990, the prevalence of direct sex workers infected with the virus tripled from 3.5% to 9.3%. One year later, this prevalence increased to 21.6%. During the same period, the proportion of male conscripts, aged 21, infected with HIV during testing for entry to the army rose six fold from 0.5% in 1989 to 3% in 1991. This increase was associated with the growing popularity of visiting sex establishments among young men.

The first determinant of health related to African American female population in the 19132 zip code pertains to policies. Polices for this population include providing access to health care, HIV testing and syringe services programs. The Office of HIV Planning in Philadelphia focuses on the needs of the population, conducts community outreaches and educational sessions. As previously stated, 32 state Medicaid programs reimburse for routine HIV screening of adults aged 15-65 years, regardless of risk. This policy allows for individuals to more likely participate in this screening process. HIV testing can be done through health care professionals offices or clinics. Other programs such as AIDS Fund and AVERTing HIV and AIDS provide information on locations on where testing can be done. AVERTing HIV and AIDS also provides information on Needle and Syringe Programs that are available in the community.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that cause initial HIV infection and, as the virus proliferates in the body, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV affects the immune system by exploiting, and, eventually, destroying a specific kind of immune cells. That allows for the gradual deterioration of a person’s immune system, which ultimately causes death from minor opportunistic infections, which are normally perfectly curable and generally do not cause major consequences for health. HIV has a limited range of transmission ways. It is only transmitted through the direct contact of body fluids, which include blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk [1]. This means that most of the modes of transmission include activities that are moralized by the society, such as intravenous drug use and sexual contacts [1]. However, it can also be transmitted through “innocent pathways”, such as during breastfeeding (mother to child) and blood transfusion. HIV is a very young, still poorly understood virus. It was first clinically observed in the summer of 1981 in San Francisco, where it was spotted as a type of sarcoma, mostly spotted in the gay population. Huge misunderstanding of the disease in the beginning of the global epidemic was prevalent [2]. Back then, a general sentiment about HIV was that of a “rather devastating outbreak” [2] and of association of this disease with homosexuality and drug use (to the point of declaring the disease not