Sexual Behavior Since the AIDS Epidemic Essay

The term Human Immunodeficiency Virus is commonly known as (HIV), which is a virus that attacks the immune system of humans by destroying the amount of CD4 cells in their bodies. Without CD4 the human body is unable to fight against diseases, which can lead to Acquired Immune deficiency syndrome known as AIDS for short. The first case of the HIV/AIDS virus in the U.S. occurred in the early 1980’s. The first spark of the virus was found in San Francisco with couple of homosexual Caucasian American males. Today African Americans account for the largest proportion of HIV and AIDS in this country, represent approximately 13% of the U.S. population, but accounted for an estimated 44% of new HIV infections in 2010(the last year a study was

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is HIV that develops into AIDS, which is Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This virus starts to break down white blood cells, as a result the immune system starts to deteriorate and our greatest shield cannot fight any longer (Mayo Clinic, 2016). The CDC (2015) states, that over 1.2 million people live with HIV in the United States and most who are infected are oblivious of their disease. Healthy people 2020 has declared HIV a public health crisis in the United States, and continues to sweep the nation with more than 500,000 new cases each year (HealthyPeople2020,2016).

HIV is communicable disease that is caused by virus. This particular virus attacks the immune system which means people who suffer from HIV find it more difficult to fight of infection than the average person who does not suffer from HIV. This disease can be transmitted by direct contact, generally it is transferred by sexual contact between partners in fact 95% of those who suffer from HIV are contracted it this way. It can also be contracted by using dirty needles or any other contaminated tool. It can also be contracted by sharing sexual toys. HIV is commonly found in a person’s bodily fluids this means it is spread through, Sperm, vaginal and even anal fluids, breast milk and blood are also common.

According to Bell (2011), the infection of the HIV virus mainly spreads through a sexual contact or blood to blood contact with an infected person. HIV spreads mainly through sexual intercourse-whether heterosexual or homosexual- where one of the partners is infected, transfusion of blood which is infected by the HIV virus, through the blood and blood products. The sharing of infected syringes or sharp needles can lead to HIV transmission. HIV is passed on by an infected mother towards her unborn child through the placenta. HIV does not spread through biting of mosquitoes, casual embracing, holding or touching an infected person, shaking hands with an infected person, coughing, sharing of public toilets or sharing meals or eating from the same plates. HIV cannot be transmitted through sharing clothes or attending similar schools or even working together.

HIV is a virus that can lead to AIDS. Patients infected with HIV often shows no symptoms until the disease has progressed to AIDS. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids, but cannot be transmitted through casual contact. Most commonly, HIV is transmitted through sexual contact. It may be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, such as needle sharing or accidental needle sticks in a healthcare setting. It may also be transmitted during pregnancy or birth from mother to child. It cannot be transmitted through casual contact such as hugging, playing sports or touching something that was touched by someone infected (CDC, n.d).

According to the CDC, about 18 % of those infected with HIV in the United States are unaware of their infection. An estimate of 1,000 young people ages 13 to 24 are newly infected with HIV each month. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids such as semen, blood, breast milk, and vaginal fluids. These fluids can come in contact between people in a variety of ways, including having unprotected sex (oral, vaginal, or anal); HIV can also be passed from mother to child during childbirth. Mother to child transmission is now rare in the US and other developed countries because pregnant women who are HIV-positive are normally given medications to prevent the fetus from getting infected. However, it is possible for an HIV-infected mother to

HIV can affect any body once they are exposing to unprotected sex and unsafe use of needles while taking drugs. Yet, many are still unaware of how HIV is contracted. Human immunodeficiency virus can be found in body fluid of blood, vaginal fluid, semen, sex toys and breast milk. However, many women are at risk because of social, economic and political factors such as their immigration status, poverty, and homelessness.

Poverty, healthcare access, and risk taking behaviors are all among the answer. One in 4 African-American women lives in poverty, and people living in poverty also get lower-quality health care in general. Exchanging sex for drugs, money, or to meet other needs causes the increase HIV risk factors. For woman living in poverty with low quality health care gives the HIV infection to advance into AIDS more quickly. HIV is mostly spread to women through sexual contact. Untreated STDs that break the skin, like genital herpes, give HIV an access into the bloodstream. 23% of African American women were infected with HIV by injection drug use. Being under the influence of any substance can cause woman to have high risk behaviors such as unprotected sex and sharing of injection drug paraphernalia.

Transmission of the HIV virus, as well as any other types of STDs, is a subject that needs to be discussed seriously and cautiously. There are many ways that one can acquire HIV/AIDS and it is very beneficial that every person is aware of the certain procedures to follow in order to avoid such an afflicting harm. The most common transmission of HIV is through sexual intercourse, where bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, or even blood are transferred from an HIV positive person to a non-infected person. AIDS is the deadliest sexually transmitted disease reaping about 13,700 deaths per year(Web, HIV in the US). There are approximately 36.9 million people living with the HIV virus, which is why more prevention techniques should be utilized across the globe.

When it comes to AIDS, there are no boundaries. AIDs have spread to many different countries and continents around the world. It is easily spread by simple hertosexual contact, also spread by shared needles, prisioners, sex workers and even Men who have sex with other Men. Women alone constitute 51% of those living with HIV in the world. When Women enter their reproductive age, the leading cause of death during

Since the beginning of the epidemic, AIDS has killed more than 30 million people worldwide, including more than 500,000 Americans. AIDS has replaced malaria and tuberculosis as the world's deadliest infectious disease among adults and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Over 13 million children have been orphaned by the epidemic. A person who is HIV-infected carries the virus in certain body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. The virus can be transmitted only if such HIV-infected fluids enter the bloodstream of another person. This kind of direct entry can occur (1) through the linings of the vagina, rectum, mouth, and the opening at the tip of the penis; (2) through intravenous injection with a syringe; or (3) through a break in the skin, such as a cut or sore. Usually, HIV is transmitted through:

Part 1: Background of Topic: What became later known as aids was detected in West Africa when scientists identified a species of chimpanzees that had a version of this virus in their immune system. They later found out that the disease was transmitted to humans and created into HIV when people hunted these animals for food and came in contact with their infected blood. Decade after decade this illness swooped over Africa like a blanket and began to spread to other countries. The first case of aids was in 1959 when a man’s blood sample was contaminated with HIV. What we didn’t know was how he became infected. “Genetic analysis of this blood sample suggested that HIV-1 may have stemmed from a single virus in the late 1940s or early 1950s.” Cited from The Aids Institute online. Estimated to start since 1930 now every nation has been corrupted with this illness already killing 21.8 million people since the epidemic began. The infection spread so quickly from our inability to know how you are able to get the STD and our unawareness that it existed. It is spread through sex (body fluids), breast feeding, and sharing injected drug equipment, manly needles. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation. “There were 35.0 million people living with HIV in 2013, up from 29.8 million in 2001, the result of continuing new infections, people living longer with HIV, and general population growth.”

Transmission of HIV can be of blood as well as body secretions and fluids such as seminal fluid, vaginal fluid and breast milk. The virus can be present as both virus within infected immune cells within these body fluids and free virus particle in the human body.

HIV infection is transmitted by transfer of blood, vaginal fluid, semen and breast milk. HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells within these body fluids.

Now this is not the same as unprotected vaginal sex which has the second highest risk of transmission because there is exposure to sexual fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids to the mucous membrane. Even though vaginal sex has second highest risk of transmission but it is the most common way HIV is transmitted. And this is because overall people have more vaginal sex that anal sex. Oral sex is another way of transmitting HIV: using the mouth to stimulate the vagina, anus or penis which carries the risk of transmitting HIV. Also someone suffering from chlamydia, STI, Herpes or any other form of sexually transmitted diseases increases your chances of transmitting or getting HIV. As your skin, mucous surface, sores and ulcer (symptoms of STI) allow HIV to easily inject themselves.