H.I.V relatively new virus (at least in the general population. Might have been present but what factors might have contributed to containment???)
In developed world (primarily U.S.A) initial cases amongst homosexual and bisexual men. Interestingly even in countries like S. Africa intial case incidence high amongst homosexual men.
Current disease demographics:
Important to note;even though HIV is global pandemic, not an evenly distributed case load
Majority of cases now Sub Saharan Africa and S.East Asia.
25.3 million in sub Saharan Africa
S.East Asia 5.8 million
Latin America: 1,4 million
North Amrica :920 thousand
W.Europe 540,000.
Australia: mere 15,000
Developing world worst affected, Also has highest rate of new infectiuons.
In affected areas (including developed countries), infection rates differ according to income, minority status etc.
In developing world, main method of transmission now heterosexual sex (contrast with primary mode during detection years and state significance if any)
In developed countries mostly inner city dwellers, minorities (e.g African Americans Look for stats to support ), and gay and bisexual men.
According to source 2; for infectious disease presentation to be operational; the following must occur.
i) introduction of the infectious agent within a host population
ii) establishment & further dissemination within the new host population
According to source 4, infectious agent had greatest opportunity to spread when all hosts are susceptible and new infections are geometric.
Humans lack any immunity to virus.
Not helped by the long latency period of the disease
Also epidemic still being primarily driven by transmission that occurred in early cases of infection
Why early cases of infection higher in the developing world???
Maybe most important;public health measures.in developed countries programs quickly set up to disseminate information, and mechanisms to reduce spread e.g setup of needle exchange programs for druggies and sxual behavioural change (wrap up pple!!!!)
In developing world health infrastructure poor, and economic dvt program of the late 80’s and 90’s which saw gvt expenditure in primary programs such as health and education fall in most of sub Saharan Africa arguably contributed to rise of HIV infections
Ignorance e.g cultural beliefs that sex with a virgin can cure AIDS (in South Africa ref source 1) might have inadvertently contributed to spread of AIDS.
Negativity surrounding use of prophlyatics.
High unemployment + gender inequalities = prostitution (unregulated, no testing etc) and migration (rural-urban) BIG role in S.east asia and sub Saharan Africa Not only rural urban migration but increased globalisation means population pools noe susceptible to infectious diseases of distant origin.
Why disease is still spreading????method of spread is not wholly avoidable (needed to ensure reproduction + pleasure!!!)
As mentioned earlier, humans not immune.
Difficult to target cycle of virus reproductive cycle as it occurs inside body.
Vaccine dvt; difficulties coz af high viral replication rates, viral variation and didfficulties in presenting the antigen glycoprotein in a manner suffiecient to coz immune response and still be safe.
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2 comments:
I believe the threat of HIV has been downplayed by the government of some countries such as Zimbabwe. Mugabee did claim at the begining of the year that he believes that the AIDS epidemic is not caused by some virus and that it is due to some curse that only divine intervention (i.e. the power invested in him) may fix the situation. So this doesn't really help with the campaigns trying to distribute contraceptive devices and anti-retrovirals as the government is making it increasingly difficult for them to work.
There exists many taboos regarding the use of condoms and similar barrier-method contraceptives. While the most effective means of reducing HIV, people tend to believe it is an insult to their traditional beliefs to prevent the 'life-force' (that is the semen) to move on and proliferate. This is a world-wide thing, as there are countries in eastern europe that even hold this belief, especially with cultures of 'machoism'. It is generally found that many western medicine traditions are struggling to make any difference in such countries because we fail to 'integrate' and try to consider the social and cultural norms that may increase or decrease the chances of getting the message through to these people.
In South Africa there a dramatic increase in prevalance of HIV/AIDS among children was observed when false, insideous roumers were spread concerning a cure for AIDS/HIV. It was believed for some time among adult men that once contracted AIDS, the only known cure was to pass it on - 'the younger the better'. And so, in sheer desperation men, with little understanding of the virus and infectious disease, committed attrocious crimes of infant rape and child molestation.
One last thing - the gender transmission of the virus is something to consider. I think from previous research I found that the mode of transmission from males --> females is much more likely from females --> males. This is important to consider since the emphasis on preventing HIV (since the 1970's) has largely been focused on homosexual male groups rather than bisexual/heterosexual relationships. This may therefore explain a resurgance of AIDS in developed countries such as Australia, the UK and the US.
Circumcision among men is believed to curb the transmission rates of HIV/AIDS on the grounds that the lightly keratinised cells of the foreskin are a target for the HIV virus. However to be circumcised isn't something that many guys want to do; in some cultures it is strongly opposed. Though this is a minor point that needs to be developed a little further.
Anyway, i guess these points I bring up highlight the importance of considering HIV/AIDS as a 'social disease' - primarily spread through our behaviour rather than some biological mechanism or environmental issue like most other infectious microbes.
So that's all I've got to say
another social factor in the developing esp when it comes to male -female transmission ratios is the cultural norm of a men having multiple wives(several wives).viewed as a signature of a man's societal status.unfortunately increases number of sexual contacts at a given time, drastically increasing the odds of infection.
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