HIV/AIDS

(noun)

An infectious disease, caused by HIV, that causes the gradual degeneration of the body's immune system.

Related Terms

Examples of HIV/AIDS in the following topics:

  • HIV and AIDS

    • HIV/AIDS results in high infection and mortality rates amidst inadequate distribution of preventative information and treatment.
    • In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there are 33.4 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, with 2.7 million new HIV infections per year and 2.0 million annual deaths due to AIDS.
    • Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected by the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.
    • Many international organizations are working to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and its mortality rate.
    • People infected with HIV/AIDS can be treated with anti-retroviral drugs.

  • Infectious Diseases Today and in the Developing World

    • Malaria is the second leading cause of death in Africa, after HIV/AIDS and is the fifth leading cause of death from infectious diseases worldwide.
    • The top three single agent/disease killers are HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
    • It is the second leading cause of death in Africa, after HIV/AIDS, and is the fifth leading cause of death from infectious diseases worldwide.
    • HIV/AIDS was introduced as an infectious disease during the 20th century and deaths due to HIV have increased fourfold since.
    • However, as HIV/AIDS has become a pandemic, it is better understood and is known to not just be isoloated to certain groups of people.

  • HIV and AIDS

    • HIV/AIDS is a major health problem in many parts of the world.
    • The virus and disease are often referred to together as HIV/AIDS.
    • In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there are 33.4 million people worldwide with HIV/AIDS; 2.7 million new HIV infections are reported per year along with two million annual deaths due to AIDS.
    • There is currently no publicly available HIV vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS.
    • Describe the problems associated with HIV/AIDS for many societies, particularly poor countries and ethnic minorities

  • The Labeling Approach

    • Another issue involving labeling was the rise of HIV/AIDS cases among gay men in the 1980s.
    • HIV/AIDS was labeled a disease of the homosexual and further pushed people into believing homosexuality was deviant.
    • Even today, some people believe contracting HIV/AIDS is punishment for deviant and inappropriate sexual behaviors.
    • Analyze the pros and cons of labeling theory, especially the implications it has for the "mentally ill" and HIV/AIDS patients

  • Race and Health

    • Another contributor to the overall worse health of blacks is the incident of HIV/AIDS; the rate of new AIDS cases is ten times higher among blacks than whites, and blacks are 20 times as likely to have HIV/AIDS as are whites.
    • Minorities also have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, and infant mortality than whites.

  • Global Aging

    • Unfortunately, in some countries HIV/AIDS has ravaged the population to the point where the average life expectancy drops.

  • Health Disparities

    • Minorities also have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, and infant mortality than whites, which suggests the lack of preventative services and education in predominantly racial minority neighborhoods and schools may play an important role.
    • Another contributor to the overall worse health of blacks is the incident of HIV/AIDS - the rate of new AIDS cases is 10 times higher among blacks than whites and blacks are 20 times as likely to have HIV/AIDS as are whites, which is generally due to the structural violence (e.g., poverty, lack of health education, lack of access to medical care, and lack of sexual education) plaguing contemporary African-American communities.
    • In an effort to dispel the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS testing in Ethiopia, Randall Tobias, U.S.
    • Global AIDS Coordinator, was publicly tested.

  • The Health of Infants and Children

    • Spreading information about the link between breastfeeding and HIV contraction is one way to reduce the transfer of HIV infections between generations.
    • Spreading information about the link between breastfeeding and HIV contraction is one way to reduce the transfer of HIV infections between generations.
    • Without diagnosis and treatment, about 35% of HIV-infected pregnant women will transmit HIV to their infants.
    • Of the estimated 2.3 million children worldwide with HIV, 1.27 million are estimated to need treatment and only 356,000 (28%) receive it.
    • In developing countries, diarrheal diseases are also a leading cause of death from infections among persons with HIV.

  • World Health Trends

    • For example immunization initiatives were launched in the 1970's, HIV/AIDs initiatives in the 1980's, and violence awareness initiatives in the 2000's.
    • At the global level, the three primary poverty-related diseases are AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
    • Developing countries account for 95% of the global AIDS prevalence and 98% of active tuberculosis infections.

  • Global Aging Trends

    • However, the rate at which the world's population is aging is not uniform across countries, and some countries have actually seen decreasing life expectancies, largely as a result of AIDS.