Hiv / Aids : Hiv And Aids

In South Africa, AIDS is one of the top causes of death. South Africa has the biggest AIDS/HIV epidemic in the world because of violence against women, poverty, and lack of education. Given this, “Africans account for nearly 70% of those who live with HIV and are dying of AIDS” (Morgenstern, Dr. Michael).

Human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV, is an infectious disease that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) when left untreated. With AIDS, an individual’s immune system is severely compromised which leads to life-threatening infections, cancer, and eventual death. HIV is primarily transmitted via direct blood contact, breast milk, and sexual contact. With the exception of one highly unique case, HIV is incurable but can be suppressed with highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). When HAART was introduced in 1996, HIV/AIDS related deaths have decreased dramatically, and HAART, when used for prophylactic measures (treatment plan also known as PrEP), has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection (Center for Disease Control, 2016).

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection is a long-term (chronic) viral infection. HIV kills white blood cells that help to control the body's defense system (immune system) and fight infection. HIV spreads through semen, pre-seminal fluid, blood, breast milk, rectal fluid, and vaginal fluid. HIV is commonly spread through sexual contact and sharing needles or syringes, because these behaviors involve exchanging bodily fluids. Without treatment, HIV can turn into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), an advanced stage of HIV infection. AIDS is a very serious illness and can be life-threatening.

Since its identification approximately two decades ago, HIV has increasingly spread globally, surpassing expectations (1). The number of people living with HIV worldwide is estimated to be 36 million, with 20 million people having died from the disease, giving a total number of 56 million being infected (1). In 2000 alone, 5.3 million people were infected with HIV and there is potential for further spread. HIV infection rates vary all over the world with the highest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (1). Responding to this epidemic has been a challenge as infection rates have increased worldwide despite tremendous public health efforts by nations (1). The identification of potential interventions to reduce the magnitude of the problem has

The AIDS epidemic, from its beginning, has elicited a variety of responses from individuals and governments alike. Because the disease was originally shrouded in such mystery, many did not know how to react, which fostered a default fear of the unknown response. This attitude lead to many governments adopting a denialist policy, countless individuals living and eventually dying alone due to an unwillingness to report their illness for fear of consequence or prejudice, and this allowed the HIV virus flourish. Several countries responded efficiently and effectively to the presence of the HIV virus in their midst, while other countries maintained an attitude of ignorance. The latter position contributed to a huge expanse of the HIV epidemic

The AIDS crisis has been a very controversial issue in the history of South Africa beginning in 1982. During this time South Africa has made a government transition from apartheid to a democracy. Since many national issues needed to be address, the AIDS crisis was pushed aside, leaving a pandemic in the process. Many factors have contributed to the issues including: poverty, social instability, high levels of sexually transmitted infections, the low status of women, sexual violence, migrant labor, limited access to quality medical care, and a history of poor leadership in the response to the pandemic. After three decades of controversy in South Africa dealing with issues involving the government, medicine, and conflict the country is still feeling the after-effect today regarding the largest AIDS pandemic.

HIV/AIDS has affected individuals from various walks of life all over the country but over the past decade this disease his greatly impacted the southern region of the United States. Over the years studies have been conducted to determine the contributing factors for this increase of HIV/AIDS rates in the South. Research findings have produced similar conclusions such as high rates of poverty, lack of education, and social stigma as contributing factors to the increased HIV/AIDS incidences in the South. The findings also have concluded that African Americans are the largest ethnic group greatly affected as being

HIV is a virus that affects human immune systems making them susceptible to a variety of diseases that may prove fatal to the patient. Apparently the most affected by this disease are people who live in the developing countries and the African continent. The Sub-Saharan Africa faces the highest HIV prevalence rate. In this region, South Africa faces greater problems associated with HIV and the effects are vast and devastating. As such, the government, organizations and regional organizations come together to fight the menace. This paper seeks to propose that South Africa is actively engaged in HIV control by exploring the various ways in which it undertakes to control and prevent the long suffering of the infected persons as well as

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects the human wellbeing by attacking the body’s immune system which is the natural defense system in the human body to resist infections. When the immune system is being compromised, the body becomes less capable of fighting diseases, allowing the body to become more susceptible to infections. Different from other viruses that the body can get rid of, HIV will remain in the body for life (Wright and Carnes, 2016). HIV works by attacking the CD4, which assists the immune system to resist infections. If not treated the virus decreases the number of T-cells in the body, thus making the person’s immune system highly prone to infections or infection-related cancers (Wright and Carnes, 2016). After the body’s immunity is actively depleted, therefore allowing opportunistic infections to invade the body, the patient will be approaching the final stage of HIV, also known as the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), quickly (Wright and Carnes, 2016).

Although advancements in AIDS research have continued over the past 2 decades, the misconception that people can contract the AIDS virus from sharing a drink is still prevalent. Aids is a major issue throughout the world and kills many people. One of the problems with aids is that it can kill people. A current solution for aids is there are medicines that people suffering from aids take and these medicines increase a person with aids life span. A future plan for aids is to find a cure so that people stop dying from aids. Aids is a recurring problem throughout history and it needs to be stopped so people stop dying.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a major public health challenge worldwide (Sepkowitz, 2001). HIV is a microscopic organism that attacks and destroys the immune system (Carter and Hughson, 2014). This has caused 35 million people to be diagnosed with the disease and an estimated 39 million people dying from HIV related causes since the beginning of the epidemic (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2016). The United Kingdom (UK) experienced a five percent rise in HIV diagnosis from 2012-2013 resulting in 107,800 patients being diagnosed with HIV (Public Health England (2014). This figure has led the UK to having one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in Europe (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2013). HIV still remains incurable with no effective vaccines in place, nonetheless measures have been put in place to curb its transmission (Munier et al, 2011). The introduction of antiretroviral therapy has triggered a decrease in replication of HIV in the infected host (Connor, et al., 1994).

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) spread quickly across the continent of Africa unfortunately taking many lives and creating a burden on the countries affected. In 2011 South Africa was declared the highest population living with the virus (reference). With a growing number of individuals affected by the virus the South African government found an increased need for health care services. However, many nurses and health care providers became ill or had died from the virus, thus creating a need for the government to develop a home-based care policy (reference).

33.3 million people are infected or living with HIV, of which 22.5 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, of the2.5 million children in the world estimated to be living with HIV, 2.3 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. Southern Africa, the most affected region, includes a number of middle- and lower-middle-income nations known as the hyperendemic countries. In South Africa alone, there are about 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS. In Swaziland, 42 per cent of women attending antenatal clinics are infected, with similar rates found elsewhere in the region. Many children are affected by the disease in a number of ways: they live with sick parents and relatives in households drained of resources due to the epidemic, and those who have lost parents are less likely to go to school or continue with their education.Studies in the regions of Southern Africa and South-East Asia have found HIV/AIDS to negatively impact both the demand for and supply of education.1,2 Orphaned children are either pulled out of school or not enrolled at all due to the financial constraints of their affected families, and have to assume responsibilities of heading or providing for households. In this respect, girls are more vulnerable. In Kenya, links were found between parental deaths and children 's progress through school. In Tanzania, households that have experienced an adult death have been found to delay the enrolment of younger children in school, but try to keep older children

South Africa has the largest population of people living with HIV/ AIDS. In 2016, South Africa had an estimated 7.1 million people living with HIV/ AIDS [1]. This epidemic has ripple effects across micro & macro–levels of the economy. HIV/AIDS negatively impacts labor supply, total labor productivity & exports among other economic channels. Given the significant impact this disease has on the economy, this is a top priority for the business community and the government.

It is no surprise HIV/AIDS is still one the most deadly disease that is still threatening a large population of human life, and there is no complete cure yet at the moment. Based on the most recent WHO (World Health Organization) data, approximately 35 million people are living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2013, and remarkably more than 23 million people in sub Saharan Africa experience the most severe HIV/AIDS epidemics.