Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that leads to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and it was discovered in the early 1980s. Since then, it has turned to be one of the feared pathogens, due to lack of a vaccine to cure it. Although there have been many challenges surrounding the development of HIV/AIDS vaccine, researchers in the medical field have managed to discover an antiretroviral treatment. The treatment is capable of halting HIV replications and easing the associated symptoms, hence changing AIDS from a rapidly terminal illness into a chronic condition. However, HIV remains to be a key challenge in public health. HIV/AIDS has had a high impact worldwide, leading to people researching basic facts about it. Social epidemiology of the disease has also been a point of interest to many individuals. As a measure of prevention, policies have been developed, and individuals encouraged to implement them to alleviate its spread. Sexual intercourse with an infected person is one way in which it can be spread. Additionally, sharing of sharp objects with an infected person, breastfeeding, and mother to child during pregnancy are other ways that the virus can be spread.
Basic facts about HIV/AIDS
There are several basic facts known about the disease. Although going for a test is the only sure way recommended for individuals to conclude if they are HIV infected, some symptoms develop once a person is HIV positive. For instance, 40% to 90% of the people develop flu-like symptoms in 2-4 weeks after HIV infection. Fever, chills, night sweats, rash, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fatigue, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes are the most common symptoms at this stage (Symptoms of HIV, n.d.). However, some infected individuals do not feel sick during that period, and they are referred to be having an acute HIV infection. In some cases, some HIV test types do not illustrate positive results at that stage, even if the infected person has the named symptoms (Symptoms of HIV, n.d.). However, one should note that the infected person is still capable of spreading the virus.
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Generally, just like prevalence and incidence rates associated with HIV/AIDS, morbidity and mortality rates have also reduced in recent years, worldwide. Reduction in incidence and prevalence rate has mainly been contributed by treatment and prevention programs set in place. According to Ghys et al. (2018), the HIV infection rate has reduced by 18% between 2010 and 2017. The scale shows that the policies set in place are relatively active. Also, it indicates that individuals are getting to know more about HIV/AIDS and, therefore, taking the right measures in protecting themselves. Likewise, the rate of AIDS-related deaths has also reduced. Still, between 2010 and 2017, the number of deaths caused by AIDS has declined by 34% (Ghys et al. 2018). Through observation of the right protective measures, such as use of condoms during unprotected sex with people whose status are not known, the rate can reduce further.
Social epidemiology of the disease
Heterosexual is one of the main ways that transmits HIV infections. Consequently, homosexuals, drug users who inject themselves, and sex workers are disproportionally affected by HIV. According to global health policy (2018), 49% of adults living with HIV are women. As a result, HIV has become the leading cause of death among the reproductive age women. Approximately, a third of individuals newly infected by HIV are young people aged between 15-24 years (Global Statistics, n.d.). Among them, young women are the most affected hence disproportionally impacted. For instance, in 2017, a quarter of new HIV infection in the sub-Sahara region are young ladies, 15-24 years. In another case, approximately 36.9 million people were living with HIV/AIDS by 2017. The number comprises of different demographic groups of individuals from different parts of the world. Out of the 36.9 million infected people, 1.8 million were children below the age of 15 years. In 2017 only, an estimation of 1.8 million individuals was HIV infected (Global Statistics, n.d.).
Roughly, 75% of the total number of people living with HIV know their status, and 59% of them have access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Lack of access to the treatment increases the AIDS-related death rate. A considerable decrease in AIDS-related deaths has also been experienced in the past fourteen years. For instance, AIDS-related deaths in 2004 were 1.9 million, unlike in 2017 where they were 940,000 (Kaiser 2018). The decrease is by more than 51%, which is a recommendable progress. Poor women have a higher burden of feeding their children hence facing more challenges. As a remedy, some of them take commercial sex as their source of income, thus exposing themselves to a higher risk of acquiring HIV. Illiteracy among many persons has also played a role in spread of HIV (Kaiser, 2018). Most of individuals are not aware of the risks they expose themselves into when they have unsafe sex.
Policies that should be implemented in order to alleviate the disease
As a way of reducing HIV infection victims, poverty eradication or minimization should be enhanced in our societies. Job creation would be of great help since it would result to a source of livelihood to the poor. If more jobs were created in most parts of Sub-Sahara, the number of ladies working as commercial sex workers could drastically reduce. Consequently, HIV infections rate could also go down since most casualties get the virus through commercial sex. Public education on the importance of practicing safe sex, such as use of condoms, should be offered to the society to reduce HIV prevalence and incidence rates. Education to infected pregnant women would also be of importance to ensure that the infant is protected from the virus during pregnancy period, while giving birth and while bringing up the child. Provision of test kits to members of the public would help them know their HIV/AIDS status, and those infected start taking the right measure. Use of ART treatment is one measure used to reduce AIDS-related morbidity and mortality rates.
References
Ghys, P. D., Williams, B. G., Over, M., Hallett, T.B., & Faussett, P. G. (2018). Epidemiological metrics and benchmarks for a transition in the HIV epidemic. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002678
Global statistics. (2018). https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/global-statistics
Kaiser J. (2018). Global Health Policy. The global HIV/AIDS epidemic . https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/the-global-hivaids-epidemic/
Symptoms of HIV. (2017). https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/symptoms-of-hiv
