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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.