AIDS/HIV Essay - 2283 Words

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing contaminated needles and syringes, mother to child (perinatal) and contaminated blood product (National Association of Health Authorities, 1988). 1.2 PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH Late HIV diagnosis remains a major problem among black Africans in England. In 2007, about 42 per cent of black Africans diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed late (HPA, 2008a). This compromises their survival chances because evidence indicates that starting treatment with a CD4 cell count below 200 copies/mm3 (a measure of the degree to which an individual’s immune system is compromised) increases the risk of disease progression and death (Gazzard, 2008). The†¦show more content†¦In 2007, there were 2,691 new HIV diagnoses among black Africans, representing 40% of all new diagnoses in the UK (HPA 2008c). The majority had acquired their infection heterosexually and in Africa. The number of new diagnoses among black Caribbeans remained low (189 in 2007), representing 3% of new diagnoses in 2007 (HPA 2008c). The percentage of late diagnoses, that is after a point when treatment should have begun, among new diagnoses of HIV in 2007 was highest among black Africans (42%). Twe nty-seven percent of HIV diagnoses among black Caribbeans were late. The worldwide HIV outbreak continues to impact negatively on African communities in the UK. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most severely affected by the HIV pandemic; as a result, immigrants from sub-Saharan African countries constitute an increasingly large group of those affected by HIV in the UK (Sinka, et al., 2003; UNAIDS, 2006; HPA, 2007). In the UK, African immigrants make up 36% of those living with HIV (12,558 out of 34,689) despite the fact that they constitute less than 1% of the population (Morris, 2008; HPA, 2009). As part of its continued investigation into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in 2005 The Guardian newspaper looked at the impact of HIV/AIDS on African communities in the UK and stated the following shocking conclusions: If you are black, African and living in the UK, you are 50 times more likely to be HIV positive than any otherShow MoreRelatedHiv / Aids And Aids1472 Words   |  6 PagesHIV/AIDS is the major ongoing issue attacking sub-Saharan Africa. The damage caused by HIV/AIDS strips families, communities, and increases poverty. In Kenya, the plague has mainly targeted those in the fertile and reproductive age groups. 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