10 Workable Changes in the Fight Against and Treatment for AIDS/HIV
Every year we celebrate World AIDS day, but there is always important things that need to be done. Action is important in this fight, and treatment for AIDS/HIV needs further research and advancement. Additional awareness of this condition is vital to the community.
1.) Improved Communication Regarding Risk factors
– Risk factors as sexual activity, tattoos, IV drug use and others must be discussed
2.) Increased Testing
– Routine or yearly testing as indicated with risk factors
3.) Improved Access to Testing
– Access to free screening when available
– Increased volunteer work in countries more ravaged by AIDS
4.) Awareness of Disease
– AIDS awareness day
– Teaching of AIDS has increased dramatically over the past 2 decades
– Knowledge about contraction, prevention, and treatment should be increasing
– 2 million people in 2008 died from AIDS
– According to the CDC, In a recent study of men who have sex with men (MSM) in five U.S cities, 46% of the black MSM were HIV-positive and 67% of those men were unaware of their infection [1].
5.) Improved Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity regarding Risk Factors
– Some prevention may go against certain culture norms
– Improved understanding of culture concerns
– Senisitivity in those countries and a discussion about risk vs benefit
6.) Decrease of Gender and Age Inequalities
– Africa has over 14 million AIDS orphans.
– Almost 90% of children with AIDS live in Africa
7.) Understand Concern for Racial Risks
– At the end of 2006 there were an estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV infection in the U.S, of which almost half (46%) were black/African American (2)
Acording to the CDC: HIV infection is:
– The leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25–34 years.
– The 3rd leading cause of death for black women aged 35–44 years.
– The 4th leading cause of death for black women aged 45–54 years.
– The 4th leading cause of death for Hispanic women aged 35–44 years.
Hispanics/Latinos* comprise 15% of the U.S. population but accounted for 17% of all new HIV infections occurring in the United States in 2006 (3,4)
Of the 475,220 persons living with HIV/AIDS, 2,996 (0.6%) were Asians and Pacific Islanders (5)
8.) Improved access to Care
– Care is essential to those who have been diagnosed with AIDs
– Treatment facilities, access to medications, Drug trials and more are available
9.) Increase Research
– Research into HIV and AIDS is ongoing
– Research into the treatment for AIDS/HIV
– Increased funding is necessary
10.) New Medications
– Several medications are available that have improved the outcome of HIV patients
– Additional medications and possible vaccines are currently under investigation
– Treatment of HIV/AIDs and the several complications is quite difficult
Take a look at the complications for treatment options:
– Kaposi’s Sarcoma
– AIDS Dementia Complex
– Pneumocystis Pneumonia
– Tuberculosis
– and many others
References:
1 – CDC. HIV Prevalence Estimates – United States, 2006. MMWR 2008; 57: 1073-1076.
2 – CDC. HIV prevalence, unrecognized infection and HIV testing among men who sex with men-five U.S. cities, June 2004-April 2005” United States, 2005. MMWR 2005; 54: 597-601.
3 – USA QuickFacts, U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed June 15, 2009.
4 – Hall I, Song R, Rhodes P, Prejean J, An Q, Lee L.M, et al. Estimation of HIV Incidence in the United States. JAMA 2008; 300: 520-529.
5 – CDC. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2005. Vol. 17. Rev ed. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC: 2007:1 “46. Accessed June 28, 2007.

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