HIV/AIDS - 25 Years After
by Youmasu J. Siewe, Ph.D, MPH.
December 1st was established
as World AIDS Day by the World Health Organization in 1988. World AIDS Day serves to focus international
attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Observing this
day provides an opportunity for nations, national AIDS programs, churches,
community organizations and individuals to demonstrate the importance of the
fight against HIV/AIDS. It
also reminds individuals that action makes a difference in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. An estimated 38.6
million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005; more than 25
million people having died of AIDS since 1981. The World Aids day serves to remind everyone that action
makes a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Infection with HIV to the
development of full AIDS does not discriminate against creed, race, culture, gender
or nationality. However individuals
who engage in homosexual or other sexually risky behaviors are more prone to
developing HIV/AIDS. An estimated
1,039,000 to 1,185,000 HIV-positive individuals live in the U.S., and
approximately 40,000 new infections occur every year. The United States like other nations around the world is
deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. Here is some statistics of interest about HIV/AIDS through
2005, as reported from the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
HIV/AIDS
by way of transmission,
·
61%
acquire the disease through males having sex with males; 26% through intravenous
drug use, 13% through high risk heterosexual contact
·
90% of
infected children acquired the disease during pregnancy or at the time of
birth.
Persons
with AIDS by the end of 2005
·
425,910
person were living with AIDS
·
44% are
black
·
35% are
White
·
19% are Hispanics
·
1% are Asian
and Pacific Islanders, and less that 1% native Americans
·
77 % are
Males
·
23% are females
·
59% had
been exposed to male to male sexual contact
·
65%
through high risk sexual contact
·
33%
through intravenous drug use
·
21% of
HIV/AIDS cases (most common) are of the 40-44 year age group.
·
Region of
residence in the country: 40% are in the south; 30% in the Northwest; 20% in the
West and 10% in the Midwest
Persons
living with HIV/AIDS in Oklahoma by the end of 2005
·
Total
number living with HIV/AIDS = 6,995
·
White 67%;
Blacks 20%; Hispanic 4.5%;American Indians 6.5%; Unknown 2%
·
By
Gender: Males 86; Females 14%
·
HIV/AIDS
deaths = 2,875
For information on county-specific HIV/AIDS in Oklahoma, check the web at:http://www.health.state.ok.us/program/hivstd/
Youmasu J. Siewe, Ph.D., MPH, is State Specialist for
Public Health Education, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service at OSU in