HIV & AIDS

By: Alli Bates & Katie Garner

Question: Since theres more knowledge and research about how you get
AIDS/HIV are fewer people contracting it?

Hypothesis: We believe that people being more educated on HIV and AIDS
makes them aware and cautious about whom they come in contact with in sexual
relationships and everyday encounters. Also, making an effort to stay healthy and
live a beneficial lifestyle will help prevent sickness and people will become more
immune to getting HIV, which leads to AIDS.
Currently, there are about 1.1 million people living with HIV in the
United States, with 16 percent of people who are unaware of their
infection. Since the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, about
600,000 people have died of AIDS-related illnesses in the United States.
Even though the United States may be the greatest nation funder of the
global HIV epidemic, its still facing a major continuing HIV epidemic
itself, with about 50,000 new infections every year. Shame and
discrimination remain to obstruct peoples access to HIV prevention,
testing, treatment services, and powering the cycle of new infections. The
United States lacked a far-reaching plan on HIV until President Obama
created a Nation HIV/AIDS strategy in 2013. Its structured around three
goals: decreasing new HIV infections, increasing access to improve
health results for people with living HIV, and reducing HIV-related
differences and health inequalities.

HIV & AIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

A study in 2010 found that wealth also determines vulnerability.

HIV occurrence was four times higher among heterosexual people in
poor city neighborhoods than the country average. In these highpoverty areas, HIV popularity didn't change depending on race or
ethnicity. Instead, higher HIV risk was credited to high HIV
prevalence, partial access to health care and other services, and high
rates of substance abuse and incarceration.
13- 24 year-olds accounted for 21 percent of the new HIV
infections in 2011. Infections among young people follow the same
trend as other groups. Of all infections amongst young people in 2010,
57 percent were among young African Americans, 20 percent among
Hispanics/Latinos, 20 percent among whites, and
78 percent were among people who are 20-24 years old.
About 60 percent of young people living with HIV are not aware
that they are infected. This has huge consequences concerning the
future transmission to others, via unprotected sex or sharing needles
for drug use. Sexually transmitted infections are also popular among
this age group, which makes individuals more exposed to HIV
infection.
AIDS among young individuals has increased by 29 percent
since 2008. Young people have thoughts and attitudes that its
impossible for them to be infected, so that is why less of them are
getting tested for HIV.
It has become increasingly obvious that the quality of HIV
prevention and treatment services an individual receives is influenced
as much by where they live, and by their socio-economic group.
A study observing information from across the country also found
that, for socioeconomic reasons, non-white men and non-white
women living in the South experience the poorest clinical outcomes
after being diagnosed with HIV. AIDS-related mortality rates differ
geographically, far more than within other highly developed countries

where national health insurance or health policies are geographically
unchanging.

Treatments for HIV & AIDS

Results: There is no cure yet for HIV/AIDS, however there are

treatments that help manage many different symptoms. Treatments can

also increase and improve the length of life for those who are already
infected and experiencing symptoms of the disease. Medications such as
anemia can be prescribed to patients, to lower white cell count and prevent
opportunistic infections.
Today, HIV-positive people have many options for HIV/AIDS medication.
The FDA has approved more than 25 antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV
infection. There is an option to use anti-HIV medications that treat HIV
infection, as well as many drugs that treat side effects of the disease or HIV
treatment. Trying to develop more medications to treat the disease is a
continuous process on researchers behalves.
US citizens are required to purchase medical insurance to cover the cost of
their treatment. However, there are various outcomes that exist that can
provide free HIV treatment to those with no insurance. The USA National
HIV/AIDS Strategy, released in July 2010, recognizes that there are
substantial amounts of people living with HIV. One third of those who test
positive, are aware of their status, however, are not in care. The Strategy
places a strong emphasis on the impact of the Affordable Care Act, which
came into effect January 2014. Changes implicated in the Affordable Care
Act include expanded Medicaid eligibility, protection for people with a preexisting condition or chronic illness HIV/AIDS allowing them to access
health insurance, and increased access to tax credits.

EDUCATION ON HIV & AIDS

Conclusion: Being educated on HIV/AIDS is critical for our society to
continuously improve awareness and medications. HIV/AIDS education for young
people plays a vital role in global efforts to end the AIDS epidemic. In 2012, more
than one third of all new HIV infections were among young people aged 15-24. By
teaching and proving young people with information about HIV/AIDS we are
enabling them to protect themselves from contracting the disease.
We are teaching todays youth about the disease through school programs. Health
classes make a concentrated effort on the disease, the effects and the symptoms.
They are taught how to avoid the infection, such as choosing their sexual partners
wisely and not touching others blood.
Research shows that individuals with a minimum of a primary education know
beneficial ways to prevent HIV/AIDS. A 32-country study found that women with
post-primary education were five times more likely than illiterate women to know
facts about HIV/AIDS. Illiterate women, on the other hand, were four times more
likely to believe that there is no way to prevent HIV infection. By educating people
about HIV/AIDS, as a society, we are enabling people with the tools and

information to protect them. We are creating a strong tool by educating our youth,
which will continue on and eventually lead to educating and helping protect our
society.