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HIV Research Paper

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Human immunodeficiency virus is most commonly known as HIV.18 It debilitates a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. It can spread through certain body fluids that assault the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells often called T cells.1 These essential cells help the immune system fight off infections.1 Untreated, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells in the body.1 The damage brought on by HIV to the immune system makes it extremely difficult for the body to fight off infections and diseases. Eager infections or cancers take advantage of a very weak immune system and signal that the person has AIDS. No effective cure exists for HIV. Scientists identified a type of chimpanzee in …show more content…

Among male students who had sexual contact with other males, only 21% have been tested for HIV. Across the country, 21% of all students who are currently sexually active and 32% of male students who had sexual contact with other males drank alcohol or used drugs before their most recent sexual intercourse. Nationwide, nearly 43% of all sexually active high school students and 49% of male students who had sexual contact with other males did not use a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse. Compared to 12% of all students who had ever had sexual contact, 33% of male students who had sexual contact with other males reported sexual intercourse with 4 or more persons during their life. Some of the highest STD rates are among young adults aged 20 to 24, specifically young adults of color. The existence of another STD greatly increases the likelihood that a person exposed to HIV will become infected.
In a 2012 Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 84% of youth aged 15 to 24 said there is a stigma around HIV in the United States. This could mean that they are not talking with their partners about ways to protect themselves from HIV and other STDs and that they are not comfortable discussing their status with others. For gay and bisexual youth who are just beginning to explore their sexuality, homophobia can pose obstacles to utilizing HIV prevention services, testing, and treatment. Gay and

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