HIV/AIDS by Vanessa Arias

Introduction:

What if your intimacy and health was threatened by a partner who had no idea they had the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)? For many victims, this was the case. Over the years, unsanitary communities along with our sexually active population have unknowingly exposed others to HIV or AIDS. A simple swap of body fluids could make you the next victim. HIV, commonly mistaken for AIDS, if not treated is the first step in contracting the fatal acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The HIV and AIDS pandemic has claimed millions of lives over the years and although we have found methods of treatment, it still threatens to claim more lives.  The rise of social media has only glorified sexual activities thus more of our population, especially teens, are at risk of getting HIV or AIDS. It is important to keep our communities informed about the preventative measures they can take to stop them or their loved ones from being the next victim. 

History

The origin of HIV is traced back to the dense, tropical West African rainforests that is home to the primary carrier of the virus, the chimpanzee (Society). Disease spread amongst the inhabitants of West Africa until it reached Sub-Saharan Africa where the earliest case of HIV was recognized in a male from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in 1959 (“Where Did HIV Come from?”). As routes of trade, transportation and migration increased in Kinshasa, HIV was easily spread until the contagion reached the Unites States in the late 1970’s (1).

Once in the United States, several Americans would report odd cases of pneumonia, cancer and other rare types of illnesses until the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention identified the source of these ailments, AIDS in 1982 (“A Timeline of HIV/AIDS.”). Although the CDC had identified AIDS in 1982, the public and health profession lacked knowledge on the growing epidemic. It was not until 1986 that HIV, the cause of AIDS, was recognized by the International Committee of Taxonomy and Viruses (1). By the end of the decade, 1989, CDC statistics displayed over 100,000 AIDS reports within the United States (1).

Research amongst health organizations such as the World Health Organization, the CDC, and United Nations continued to research on prevention and treatment throughout the 1990’s (1). The World Health Organization estimated 34.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS globally by 1999 (“Fact Sheet - Latest Statistics on the Status of the AIDS Epidemic”). The HIV/AIDS epidemic gradually increased throughout the 2000’s within the United States leaving over 1.2 million Americans infected by 2013 (“HIV/AIDS”). Since 2015 the CDC has estimated 39,513 diagnosed HIV cases per year (1).

Causes of the Epidemic

Before the epidemic was identified within the United States in the early 1980’s, HIV/AIDS had primarily bloomed amongst West African civilizations in the 1920’s (“Origin of HIV & AIDS”). A contaminated food chain amongst the simian species and locals lead to an outbreak that would

 

gradually consume Western Africa. The origins of HIV began with the intermingling of three types of monkey, the chimpanzee, the red-capped mangabey and the greater spot nosed monkey (1). As chimpanzees began two feed on these two types of monkeys, the virus would metastasize within the chimpanzee’s body creating what is known to their species as the simian immuno-deficiency virus or SIV (1). Locals would travel within the tropical West African rainforest to hunt and feed on chimpanzees (Society). Once the human body ingested or encountered the contaminated meat, the

virus would transfer to the human host becoming HIV (1). Procreation amongst infected locals encouraged the HIV epidemic amongst civilizations eventually spreading to other parts of Africa. The epidemic especially grew amongst African civilizations like Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the sex trade, migration and transportation established in the city (“Origin of HIV & AIDS”). 

Through international travel and trade, HIV made its first acknowledged appearance in the United States amongst 5 gay men (“A Timeline of HIV/AIDS”). In previous years before HIV/AIDS were identified, patients were diagnosed with pneumonia, rare cancers and odd illnesses (“Origin of HIV & AIDS”). It was not until 1982, that AIDS was identified as the cause of the rare and opportunistic illnesses people obtained (“A Timeline of HIV/AIDS”).  Because the number of cases were predominantly found amongst gay men, the medical community adopted the term Gay Related Immunodeficiency virus or GRID, known to the public as “gay cancer”, in 1981 (1). By coining this term, the American public and medical profession began to believe that HIV was strictly limited to those who were gay, jeopardizing the health of heterosexual men, women, children and patients who received intravenous drug treatments (1). Consequently, the outbreak increased amongst other Americans and infants who received blood transfusion (1).

  Factors that contributed to the rise of HIV/AIDS in the early years of the epidemic that continue to this day include: “poverty, famine, low status of women in society, corruption, naïve risk taking perception, resistance to sexual behavioral change, antiquated beliefs, ignorance of individual’s HIV status, child and adult prostitution…”, and unsanitary conditions (Nyindo).

Effects on Society

The familiar flu-like symptoms, mouth ulcers and blossoming purplish spots that appear on HIV/AIDS carriers have become common and alarming in several populations around the world, especially in developing countries (“Symptoms of HIV”). Since the eruption of the epidemic in Western Africa, the status of the epidemic has only worsened. According to the population reference bureau, AIDS is the leading cause of death in Sub-Sharan Africa. Out of the 34 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, 69% of those infected live in Sub-Saharan Africa (“11 Facts about HIV in Africa.”). Life expectancy in Sub-Sharan Africa has decreased to 54 years of age and in other regions it is below 49 (1).With statistics displaying a prevalence of rape amongst women and children, HIV and forced pregnancy is common (Wilkinson). When pregnant, a mother can prenatally transmit the virus to their newborn any time during the pregnancy (“HIV/ AIDS During Pregnancy - American Pregnancy.”). The only way to decrease the risk of prenatal transmission would be to receive medical attention, but with the poor health care system in Africa, many HIV carriers do not have access to the medical attention or treatments required to live long (“11 Facts about HIV in Africa.”). Because women cannot receive the proper medical treatment, many of them unknowingly give birth to an infected child and shortly die from AIDS (PRB). Within this region alone, more than 90% of children have been orphaned as consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Goliber).  

 Although health care advancements have been made in developed countries like the United States, fear, discrimination and prejudice create barriers for those in need of treatment. When the HIV/AIDS epidemic arrived in the United States it began by primarily affecting the Gay community. AIDS was first found in 5 gay young men in 1980 who had been displaying rare infections in previous years before their diagnosis (“A Timeline of HIV/AIDS.”). Because the virus was found commonly among gay men, the public began to describe their infection as “gay cancer”, or the Gay-Relate immunodeficiency virus (1). Gay men were singled out “…for abuse as they were seen as the cause of HIV transmission.”(“Homophobia and HIV.”). The press further encouraged discrimination by publishing titles such as “Alert over gay plague” on articles or newspapers (“Discrimination and Homophobia Fuel the HIV Epidemic in Gay and Bisexual Men.”). The HIV/AIDS epidemic only fueled homophobic agendas and discrimination against gay carriers of the virus. Stigma and discrimination continues to prevent LGBT people from accessing HIV treatment. 

As the virus began to infect thousands of Americans despite age, race or sexual preference, fear encouraged hateful acts against HIV carriers. Thousands of infants who had been prenatally exposed to HIV had been abandoned by fearful parents (“A Timeline of HIV/AIDS”). Young children like Ryan White, a middle school student who contracted HIV and developed AIDS because of his intravenous hemophilia treatments, were denied entry to public schools (1).Ryan white was 13 when he contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion. The young teen was from Kokomo, Indiana where he was forced to receive education through a phone in fear that other students and teachers would become infected (Johnson). White “…was labeled a troublemaker, [his] mom an unfit mother, and [was] not welcome anywhere.”("Ryan White Quotes.") .Discriminated against and taunted, Ryan White died at the age of 18 due to the common respiratory infections seen in AIDS patients.

Furthermore, the effects of HIV continue to be prevalent among minorities globally. These vulnerable groups do not have the socioeconomic means to attain the required HIV treatment or care. Although the HIV/AIDS epidemic has not drastically increased among these communities since the discovery of treatments, these populations continue to display a high rate of infection compared to those who are socioeconomically advantaged.

Solutions:

Since the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, several forms of treatments and campaigns have been developed to aid those in dire need of treatment. At the start of the epidemic, several campaigns were launched to bring awareness to the public about the precautions needed to decrease the risk of infection. In 1986, six years after the discovery of the virus, the United States surgeon general called for an increase in sexual education in school, an increase of condoms used among those who are sexually active and a clean syringe distribution program (Longo). According to the National Survey for Family Growth, 40% of teen’s ages 15 through 19 years-of-age who received comprehensive sex education delayed sexual initiation, had a reduced number of sexual partners, and 60% had an

increased use of condoms and contraception (“Comprehensive Sex Education: Research and Results.”). These programs have been useful when preventing the risk of infection for young sexually active teens; however, some schools may not have the adequate funding to attain the resources or training required to appropriately teach students. Sex education programs may also be unappealing to parents who are religiously affiliated leaving students sexually misinformed and at risk. Although campaigning was effective in teaching youth sexual precautions, it did little to impact the growing rate of the epidemic. Campaigning was especially ineffective in developing countries located Africa, where “…61 million African children will reach adolescence lacking even the most basic literacy and numeracy skills” (“Africa’s Education Crisis: In School But Not Learning | Brookings Institution.”).

Statistically speaking, the most effective approach when decreasing HIV diagnoses and mortality rate is notably seen medicinally. In 1987, the first antiretroviral drug, Zidovudine was approved by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration

(“AVERT HIV Timeline.”). Antiretroviral drugs function by blocking an essential protein required for the replication of HIV DNA, effectively stopping HIV from advancing to AIDS (“Antiretroviral Therapy (Anti-HIV Drugs).”). Although antiretroviral medications do not cure HIV or AIDS, they dramatically improved the life of patients living with the fatal virus. Prior to antiretroviral treatments, life expectancy for an AIDS carrier was 3 years (“Stages of HIV Infection.”). Antiretroviral treatments and therapy extended life expectancy to 60 years of age and beyond (“Many Patients Taking HIV Drugs Can Now Expect to Live into Their 70s.”). Researchers found if a 20-year-old HIV carrier were to immediately receive antiretroviral treatment they can expect to live to be 70 (1). In 1995, a new method of antiretroviral HIV treatment was developed known as HAART (“AVERT HIV Timeline.”). The development of new antiretroviral therapy was revolutionary in maintaining the number of AIDS related deaths and transmission low. Studies displayed a 60 to 80 percent decline in the number of deaths and hospitalizations in countries that could afford the treatment (1). Furthermore, studies also displayed a decrease in prenatal transmission to a child by 90 percent and reduced transmission to a sexual partner by 96 percent (“HIV by the Numbers: Facts, Statistics, and You.”, “HIV/AIDS.”).

With mortality and infection rates decreasing, new medicinal developments were created to allow HIV patients to live a more conventional life style. Further HIV treatments were improved with the intent of allowing an HIV carrier to continue with their daily routines while also preventing the risk of infection in their loved ones.  Prior to the development of HIV tablet, an HIV-positive patient had to constantly take two doses of three to four drugs a day (“Single-Dose Drug Makes Life Easier for HIV Patients.”). Because the intake of medication was so constant, many patients would opt out or forget to take their medication, increasing their risk of developing AIDS and infecting others. A one dose tablet was created in 1997, to make it easier and affordable for patients to receive HIV treatment (“AVERT HIV Timeline.”). Instead of paying for multiple HIV medications, patients could now receive the treatment need for the lower cost of one medication. This was financially convenient for patients with families involved in a serodiscordant relationship, in which one partner is HIV positive while the other is not, because it allowed for HIV-positive partners to continue with intimate relationships without jeopardizing their significant other’s health or their economic status (1).

Although countries like the United States have varied medicinal and therapeutic options for HIV treatment, developing countries are still combating the rampaging epidemic consuming their populations. Developing countries in Africa simply cannot afford to treat their HIV-positive population leading to an inflation of disease without treatment. Several countries in Africa have inadequate human resources, fail to properly allocate health care resources and have a weak institution capacity that obstructs people from receiving proper health care (“Why Is Africa's Healthcare so Far behind the Rest of the World?”). Several African health care facilities suffer a widespread medicinal shortage (Motema). When health care facilities can receive necessary resources, they are very limited and too expensive for the public to afford (“The Untold AIDS Story: How Access to Antiretroviral Drugs Was Obstructed in Africa.”). Although African health care institutions appear desolate, many organizations such as doctors without borders and UNAIDS have offered aid to these countries when obtaining HIV treatment. The one dose HIV tablet makes it easier and affordable for developing countries to receive adequate HIV treatment, which is why the medicinal solution to the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been the most effective solution so far.

Camus and absurdity

Camus’ The Plague is parallel to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in that they share themes of destruction caused by disease and the location of Africa. Camus’ sets the bubonic plague in the city of Oran, Algeria in the Northwest corner of Africa consequently corresponding to the continent that is immensely burdened by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A question emphasized by Camus’ absurd literature is: in the face of fear do you save others or yourself? We see that many people desire to preserve themselves in the face of the bubonic plague and in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Many Americans witnessed countless children being discriminated and abandoned because of fear; several homosexual men were attacked and accused of causing the epidemic. Despite the fear and despondent truth of disease, there still are people willing to sacrifice their health for the benefit of those suffering. Human life is illogical, but still needs to be preserved through any type of solutions including medicinal help.

Camus’ perception of the HIV/AIDS epidemic would be similar to that of The Plague. In the novel, Camus’ displays a society where suffering is inevitable and illogical; however, that does not mean we should give in to inhospitable forces. In the novel, we still see characters combat the bubonic plague despite the increasing body count in the city of Oran. Much like the bubonic plague in Camus’ novel, HIV/AIDS kills many despite age, race, gender or religious affiliation, making it very possible for infection to spread, yet with the very little knowledge we had about HIV, we continued to preserve human lives.

The results of the HIV/AIDS epidemic would surprise Camus’ seeing that the health care community has found an efficient way to turn the HIV epidemic from a death sentence to a chronic, treatable disease. With new medicinal developments, we now have a way to preserve life despite the hostility of HIV in the human body.

Conclusion

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has devastated several populations globally for over decades. Although medicinal solutions have displayed a decrease in the number of AIDS-related deaths and diagnosis in the past year, the epidemic continues to threaten and destroy ignorant and unfortunate populations. In recent years, the epidemic has begun to threaten young generations who are unaware of the transmission of HIV. Because HIV is a constantly mutating virus, HIV-positive patients have recently displayed a resistance to certain antiretroviral treatments, potentially leaving our population at risk of a greater outbreak if new treatment options are not developed (“A Timeline of HIV/AIDS.”). It is important to maintain our society aware of the dangers of disease and acknowledge the possible precautions people can take when facing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. People need to acknowledge that programs need to be integrated into facilities to educate those unaware of what HIV is and the use of contraception must be encouraged. Furthermore, resources should be allocated to minorities both in the United States and globally so the epidemic can be eradicated once and for all. It is vital to preserve our society by encouraging, educating and advocating for adequate HIV-treatment for all. 

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