1. HIV/AIDS
Caitlin Richman

2. What is HIV/AIDS? HIV- Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HIV is defined as a virus that attacks the immune system destroying macrophages and CD4 positive T cells. These T cells are white blood cells that are vital to the body to help fight off infection. This inhibits the body from fighting off the HIV virus making the immune system very vulnerable to other diseases and/ or infections that one’s body may come into contact with.
AIDS- Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
AIDS is when the HIV has destroyed so many of your bodies CD4 cells that the body can absolutely no longer fight infections. AIDS is the final stage of HIV when one has very damaged immune systems.
How do you become diagnosed with AIDS?
It becomes evident to doctors when a patient with HIV has progressed to acquiring AIDS because of certain cancers, one or more opportunistic infections or an alarmingly low number of CD4 cells.
It is important to remember one must first have HIV, and the HIV must be in the late stages in order to acquire AIDS.

3. The Origin of HIV/AIDS
According to the book HIV/AIDS written by Patrick G. Guilfoile (2011) the origin of HIV/AIDS began as a pathogen in chimpanzees in a west-central country in Africa named Cameroon. The virus in the chimpanzees was named SIVcpz, for simian immunodeficiency virus- chimpanzee. There were two SIV viruses, one from mangabeys and the other from spot-nosed monkeys. What researchers believe is that the chimpanzees became simultaneously infected with the two different kinds of SIVs, making the SIVcpz that can affect both chimpanzees and humans.

4. The Origin of HIV/AIDS cont.
How did the SIVcpz make the transition from chimps to humans? Again, researchers and scientist believe this happened because of humans hunting and killing these infected animals, and the chimpanzees blood getting into the hunters cut/ open wound, which is blamed for the 1st disease transmission.
What evidence do we have to back this up? Scientists have compared the DNA of the chimpanzee virus with HIV and have repeatedly determined a match.
Could this epidemic have been avoided if humans did not kill and eat chimpanzees? It is a very strong possibility.
Guilford, P (2011) HIV/AIDS

5. Statistical Data for HIV/AIDS in the World
Prevalence- The number of existing cases of HIV/AIDS in the world.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated 34 million people are living with HIV around the world.
Incidence- The number of new cases in a population during a certain period of time.
In 2011, there were 2.5 million new cases of HIV around the world.
CDC Statistics for HIV/AIDS (2014)

6. Statistical Data for HIV/AIDS in the United States
Prevalence- the number of existing cases of HIV/AIDS
As of the end of 2010, there is about 1.1 million people in the United States living with HIV. It is estimated that around 16% of the 1.1 million do not know they are infected.
Incidence- The number of new cases in a population during a certain period of time.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 50,000 people get infected with HIV each year in the United States. This is a very alarming rate that needs immediate attention to help decrease.
CDC Statistics for HIV/AIDS(2014)

7. Host Attributes
Characteristics of the host include indulging in risky behaviors and lifestyle choices.
Risky behaviors include unprotected sex and having a pregnancy while being HIV positive.
Lifestyle choices/behaviors include working in the medical field and using dirty needles to inject something into your body.
During the late 1970’s to mid 1980’s hemophiliacs became a large population infected with HIV through blood products. This affected around half of all people with hemophilia during this time. Doctors became aware of what had happened and now use viral inactivation methods to decontaminate blood products. They also test blood donors to make sure they are not HIV positive, and re-check the blood before it is transfused into another person to limit the risk of spreading HIV.
Why did it take so long? It can take 5 to 15 years for HIV/AIDS symptoms to become prominent in people. For example, it could affect one person severely within the first few years of being infected but it could take another individual around 5 years to develop all the symptoms. So people who were donating blood did not know they were HIV positive and there were minimal tests done to the blood to check for HIV.

8. Stigma Towards HIV/AIDS
Unfortunately, there are many stigmas that still exist towards HIV/AIDS.
This stigma occurs when “people depreciate a person or group of people because they are associated with a certain disease, behavior or practice” International Center for Research on Women (ICRW 2010)
A stigma that the ICRW believe is associated with HIV/AIDS is falsely believing that those who have the virus are extremely contagious and could infect other easily. They also assume that they are all engaging in risky behaviors such as men having sex with men or many unprotected sexual encounters. While these are ways to contract HIV, they are not the only way.
People can view those infected with HIV as a threat, and ultimately making those HIV positive people become isolated from the public and feel very alone through this difficult time.
This stigma can hurt more people in the long run because it can make those HIV positive afraid to tell their partner and can affect their willingness and ability to access proper health care.

9. What is Being Done to Decrease the Stigma?
There are many programs here in the United States to help decrease the long history of the stigmas against HIV/AIDS.
One program I found extremely interesting was called The Stigma Project.
This campaign’s motto is “LIVE HIV NEUTRAL” and their mission is to eliminate the stigma of HIV on a global scale and they hope to create a world free of judgment and fear to those who are HIV positive.
Their vision statement also states that they hope to “educate both positive and negative individuals from all walks of life about the constantly evolving state of the epidemic, they seek to reduce the HIV infection rate through knowledge, awareness, and effecting marketing and advertising. Their ultimate goal is to see a world free of HIV/AIDS.” The Stigma Project (2013)
Their plan for this education is mostly through social media because they see it as one of todays largest mediums to share news, culture and education.
To learn more about The Stigma Project, please visit

10. Agent Attributes There are many ways a person can contract HIV.
HIV is spread through human body fluids.
I go on further to explain HIV agent attributes in this presentation but I would like to share this great video on how and when HIV becomes AIDS.

11. Contributing Factors to HIV/AIDS
How is HIV/AIDS spread?
The actual virus is spread through specific human body fluids.
How do you know which body fluids contain the HIV virus?
According to the aids.gov website they list the human body fluids that contain enough HIV to infect another human.
These fluids are blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, breast milk, vaginal fluids and rectal mucus.
Saliva, sweat, tears, vomit and urine do not contain enough HIV to infect, unless it is mixed with blood and there is significant and direct contact with the liquid.

12. How is HIV transmitted through body fluids?
There are specific actions by which humans participate in which can make them vulnerable to contracting HIV
These activities are as follows:
Sexual contact
Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding
Injection drug use
Occupational exposure
Blood transfusion or organ transplant

13. How These Factors Contribute to HIV
Sexual contact-
HIV can be spread through anal, oral or vaginal sex with a partner. It is spread through rips in the delicate skin lining of the vagina, rectum, penis or mouth. The HIV infected fluids also enter through open sores. It is highly important that both partners are tested before engaging in any sexual contact because of how easily this disease is spread. Also using protection such as a condom is highly important to prevent HIV from infecting your partner.
Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding-
HIV is easily spread throughout pregnancy and childbirth because of the many contacts the baby has with it’s mothers fluid. The HIV can be transmitted through the amniotic fluid during pregnancy and from the blood during childbirth. HIV infected breast milk is also a risk for transmission of HIV to a baby.

14. How These Factors Contribute to HIV Cont.
Injection drug use
Sharing needles is a large contributing factor to HIV. A previous user of a needle could be HIV positive and injecting that dirty needle into another person will expose that new person to HIV by the contact of the previous needle users blood. It delivers the virus directly into the body.
Occupational exposure
Workers in the health care field have a great risk for HIV transmission. Health care workers come into contact with blood and many other infected fluids which can affect them by these fluids getting into their mouth, and open sore or cut.
Blood transfusion and organ transplant
Although this is rare, a blood transfusion with infected blood or an organ transplant from an infected donor can result in the recipient contracting HIV. Many tests are done on both blood and organs before they are transferred to eliminate the possibility of transferring HIV positive blood and organs.

15. Environmental factors affecting HIV/AIDS
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is heavily regarded as a socioeconomic problem. Many environmental factors contributing to the HIV/AIDS epidemic include poverty and cultural aspects such as religion and traditions.
It is widely known that scientific research is key to finding prevention and treatment methods for HIV/AIDS, so those countries with little to no availability to resources to provide the research and prevention methods are more likely to spread and contract HIV/AIDS due to their lack of knowledge, either on HIV in general, or they may not even know they have it.
Antiretroviral therapy, protection methods and vaccines are examples of treatment methods that are not globally accessible.
This is what makes poorer countries more at risk for the high HIV rates.
More developed countries, like the United States are making strides in developing vaccines and researching to find cures for HIV/AIDS and hopefully will be able to share their findings with the world as soon as it becomes available.

16. Global Trends in HIV
(2012)

17. Extent of the Health Problem
The fact HIV/AIDS is increasing at an exponential rate worldwide proves this is a serious health problem that needs immediate attention and as much research and prevention methods taught as possible.
The spread of HIV/AIDS has been found in smaller cities and rural counties so it is clear this problem is not limited to major cities (Harris CM, Rattner E, Sutton C). This is important information to know so research can be conducted on these areas appropriately.
As I have mentioned before, environmental factors have a huge impact on the extent of this health problem. Those countries with limited access to resources such as health care and even basic needs for prevention like condoms or clean needles are contributing to the high extent to which this HIV/AIDS epidemic has become.
On my statistic slide I also quoted the CDC’S world prevalence and incidence rate being 34 million people in the world living with HIV and about 2.5 million new cases of HIV in This is a large, alarming number that helps put the severe extent of this health problem into perspective for the public.

18. Measures of Prevention
As of January 2014, there is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS so publicizing the measures of prevention is highly important in order to decrease the incidence and prevalence rates of this destructive disease.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has devised a list of prevention methods I find highly effective.
These prevention methods include but are not limited to:
Getting tested regularly for HIV
Practicing abstinence
Remaining faithful to partner/ spouse
Consistently using male latex or female polyurethane condoms
Do not share needles.
AIDS.GOV has also created a brief video on HIV in the United States, where the health care for HIV/AIDS is currently at and how they hope to increase prevention and treatment methods.

19. Strategies to treat/address the problem
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have been working hard in HIV research.
NIAID has been conducting and supporting new strategies to prevent and stop HIV altogether. On their website, they have outlined 3 main projects they are currently working on to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The CDC has created 5 main HIV related programs aimed at attacking the disease from all sides, meaning everything from preventing those from succumbing to this disease to helping those who have already been infected.

20. NIAIDS Prevention Research
One strategy NIAID has been working on is developing vaccines and topical microbicides, such as gels, foams, and creams that can be applied on the rectum or vagina prior to sexual contact to avoid contracting HIV.
Another strategy is providing antiretrovirals to people who are not yet infected with HIV but are at high risk for contracting HIV. This antiretroviral is called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
NIAID is also researching HIV vaccines to prevent HIV infection and to lessen the viral load in those people who have already contracted HIV.

21. CDC HIV Prevention Related Programs
The CDC provides leadership and support for developing and implementing prevention methods to reduce the HIV infections by using scientifically proven, cost effective intervention and prevention strategies directed towards the most vulnerable populations who are at the greatest risk for contracting HIV. A sample of these interventions are listed below.
Evidence-based interventions (EBIs)- EBIs are used for reviewing scientific literature to create interventions provided to HIV prevention partners in support of high-impact prevention.

22. CDC HIV Prevention Related Programs
Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services (CRCS)- this is an intensive, individual level and client centered risk reduction intervention for people at high risk for HIV infection or transmission. There is a website that provides this information to health departments and CBOs that will implement CRCS to their clients.
Condom Distribution- aimed at creating individual and group level interventions effective in increasing condom use and reducing the rates of unprotected sex. This intervention focuses on the individuals risk, but does not address barriers beyond the individual such as not having the accessibility to condoms.

23. CDC HIV Prevention Related Programs
Comprehensive Prevention Programs for Health Departments (CPPHD)- A five-year HIV funding for prevention opportunity for health departments in different states and select cities (those more at risk). This is the CDC’s largest investment in the HIV prevention strategy.
Prevention with Persons with HIV (PWP)- works with the promotion of several interventions to improve the health of and prevent the spread of HIV for adolescents and adults infected with HIV in the United States.

24. Reducing Your Risk
There have been 2 drugs created to help reduce your risk of HIV.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis-(PrEP) This is a prevention method for people who do not have an HIV infection, but are at a high risk for contracting it. This pill is designed to be taken daily to reduce one’s risk of becoming infected. This drug is only made for people who are HIV negative. This pill must be prescribed by a doctor. If the medicine is taken daily and the person is HIV negative, this pill has been proven to work.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis-(PEP) anti-HIV drugs taken as soon as possible after exposure to HIV to reduce one’s chances of being HIV positive. The medication works by preventing the HIV from making copies of itself and spreading quickly and producing damaging effects throughout the body.
Aids.gov Reduce your Risk (2013)

25. What are Some Campaigns to Help Raise Awareness of HIV/AIDS?
Greater Than AIDS-
Empowered Campaign
(RED)
World AIDS Day

26. EMPOWERED- Greater Than AIDS Campaign
The global pandemic of HIV/AIDS has brought much attention to the general public. But campaigns help broaden the publics knowledge and awareness of a problem and lets them know how they can become a part of it and help stop the disease.
Typically, campaigns take to celebrities to help publicize and make their campaign well known to their target audience.
The Greater than Aids campaign has done just that. They use celebrities such as Alicia Keys to empower those living with HIV/AIDS, empower everyone to be fully educated about HIV/AIDS and teach them 5 ways to be greater than AIDS. (prevention methods)

27. INSPI(RED)
The purpose of the (RED) campaign is it partners with famous name brands like GAP and Apple who make clothing lines or limited edition IPods that are the color red, to raise awareness and money to fight HIV/AIDS at the global level. 100% of the proceeds made are given straight to the campaign to fight HIV/AIDS. They have impacted over 40 million people and raised $240 million to the global fund to fight this disease. Their current goal is an HIV/AIDS free generation by 2015.

28. World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day happens each year on December 1st for people around the world to unite and fight against HIV/AIDS. World AIDS day provides an opportunity to learn about HIV, get tested, know how to take care of your own health and prevent HIV, show support and raise money for HIV/AIDS research.

29. Thank You!

30. References:
Adverting HIV and AIDS. (2014). Worldwide HIV and AIDS statistics.
Retrieved from
statistics.htm
AIDS.gov. (2012, June 6). HIV/AIDS Basics. Retrieved from
Alfsen, A. (2004, June). Environmental Factors in HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Development: New Perspectives for Gender Equity and Global
Protection Against HIV Transmission. US National Library of Medicine,
National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, February 7). CDC:
HIV/AIDS. Retrieved from
Greater Than AIDS. (2013). Together We Are Greater Than AIDS. Retrieved
from
Guilfoile, P. PhD. (2011). Deadly Diseases And Epidemics: HIV/AIDS. New
York, NY: Chelsea House.
Health Channel TV. (Producer). (2012, December 4). AIDS- Everything You
Need To Know. Cherish Your Health TV. Podcast retrieved from

31. References:
International Center for Research on Women. (2010). HIV/AIDS Stigma and
Discrimination. Retrieved from
aids/stigma-discrimination
National Hemophilia Foundation. (2006). HIV/AIDS. Retrieved from
uid=43&contentid=39
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2012, April 3).
What are HIV and AIDS? Retrieved from
atAreHIVAIDS.aspx
Pages/prevention.aspx
RED. (2013). How (Red) Works. Retrieved from
The Stigma Project. (2013). The Stigma Project: Our Mission & Vision.
Retrieved from
vision/c13b5
World AIDS Day. (2011). About World AIDS Day. Retrieved from