AIDS

AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is defined as a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the depletion of the immune system caused by infection with HIV. Although treatments for both AIDS and HIV exist, there is no known cure. The rate of clinical disease progression varies widely between individuals and has been shown to be affected by many factors such as host susceptibility, immune function, health care, the presence of co-infections and peculiarities of the viral strain.

Prevention

The effective use of condoms and screening of blood transfusion in North America, Western and Central Europe is credited with the low rates of AIDS in these regions. Adopting these effective prevention methods in other regions has proved controversial and difficult. The Vatican opposes the use of condoms http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3176982.stm and many countries do not screen blood transfusions for HIV antibodies.

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Safer sex

The male latex condom is the single most efficient available technology to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. With consistent and correct use of condoms, there is a very low risk of HIV infection. Studies on couples where one partner is infected show that with consistent condom use, HIV infection rates for the uninfected partner are below 1% per year.http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre/fact_sheets/fs_200308_Condoms.htm

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The US government and US health organizations both endorse the ABC Approach to lower the risk of acquiring AIDS during sex:

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• Abstinence or delay of sexual activity, especially for youth,
• Being faithful, especially for those in committed relationships,
• Condom use, for those who engage in risky behavior.

This approach has been very successful in Uganda, where HIV prevalence has decreased from 15% to 5%. However, the ABC approach is far from all that Uganda has done, as "Uganda has pioneered approaches towards reducing stigma, bringing discussion of sexual behavior out into the open, involving HIV-infected people in public education, persuading individuals and couples to be tested and counseled, improving the status of women, involving religious organizations, enlisting traditional healers, and much more." (Edward Green, Harvard medical anthropologist). Also, it must be noted that there is no conclusive proof that abstinence-only programs have been successful in any country in the world in reducing HIV transmission. This is why condom use is heavily co-promoted. There is also considerable overlap with the CNN Approach. This is:

Related Topics:
Uganda - Harvard

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• Condom use, for those who engage in risky behavior.
• Needles, use clean ones
• Negotiating skills; negotiating safer sex with a partner and empowering women to make smart choices

The ABC approach has been criticized, because a faithful husband or wife of an unfaithful partner is at risk of AIDS http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4223619. Many think that the combination of the CNN approach with the ABC approach will be the optimum prevention platform.

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HIV blood screening

In those countries where improved donor selection and antibody tests have been introduced, the risk of transmitting HIV infection to blood transfusion recipients has been effectively eliminated. According to the WHO, the overwhelming majority of the world's population does not have access to safe blood and "between 5% and 10% of HIV infections worldwide are transmitted through the transfusion of infected blood and blood products." http://www.who.int/inf-pr-2000/en/pr2000-25.html

Related Topics:
HIV - Blood transfusion - WHO

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Medical procedures

Medical workers who follow universal precautions or body substance isolation such as wearing latex gloves when giving injections and washing the hands frequently can help prevent infection of HIV. The risk of being infected with HIV from a single prick with a needle that has been used on an HIV infected person though is thought to be about 1 in 150 (see table above). Post-exposure prophylaxis with anti-HIV drugs can further reduce that small risk. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Booksources&isbn=076370086X

Related Topics:
Universal precautions - See table above - Post-exposure prophylaxis

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Universal precautions are frequently not followed in both sub-Saharan Africa and much of Asia because of both a shortage of supplies and inadequate training. The WHO estimates that approximately 2.5% of all HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa are transmitted through unsafe healthcare injections. http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20030804b1.html. Because of this, the United Nations General Assembly, supported by universal medical opinion on the matter, has urged the nations of the world to implement universal precautions to prevent HIV transmission in health care settings http://www.africaaction.org/docs03/safe0304.htm.

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Universal precaution gets its name from the idea that precautions are to be used every single time, and not merely when the healthcare worker thinks that a patient might be high-risk for a transmissable disease.

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Intravenous drug use

HIV can be transmitted by the sharing of needles by users of intravenous drugs. Cumulative data from 1981 to 2001 has shown that 31.5% of people with AIDS in the United States are injection drug users http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Booksources&isbn=076370086X. All AIDS-prevention organisations advise drug-users not to share needles and to use a new or properly sterilized needle for each injection. Information on cleaning needles using bleach is available from health care and addiction professionals and from needle exchanges. In the United States and other western countries, clean needles are available free in some cities, at needle exchanges or safe injection sites.

Related Topics:
Needle exchange - Safe injection site

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Mother to child transmission

There is a 15?30% risk of transmission of HIV from mother to child during pregnancy, labour and delivery. A number of factors influence the risk of infection, particularly the viral load of the mother at birth (the higher the load, the higher the risk). Breastfeeding increases the risk of transmission by 10?15%. This risk depends on clinical factors and may vary according to the pattern and duration of breastfeeding.

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Studies have shown that antiretroviral drugs, cesarean delivery and formula feeding reduce the chance of transmission of HIV from mother to child. (Sperlin et al., 1996)

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When replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, HIV-infected mothers are recommended to avoid breast feeding their infant. Otherwise, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended during the first months of life and should be discontinued as soon as possible. http://www.unaids.org/en/Resources/faq/faq_prevention.asp#20

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