Aids- a Global Phenomenon

Human Populations and a Global Phenomenon: AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (commonly known as AIDS) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the damage to the immune system caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which attacks the body’s immune system leaving individuals vulnerable to opportunistic infections which usually results in death.
It was found that not everyone with HIV has AIDS, but everyone with AIDS has HIV. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of the bloodstream with bodily fluid such as: blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-seminal fluid and breast milk of a HIV positive person, during sexual intercourse, the sharing of contaminated needles, tattooing, child birth, breast feeding, intravenous drug use and blood transfusions.

Since it originated from Sub-Saharan Africa in 1981, AIDS has been reported in over 150 countries worldwide (including the most populous countries, such as China, India and Russia) and has claimed the lives of approximately 25 million people, making it one of the most widespread and destructive epidemics in recorded history.



AIDS was once thought to only   be a homosexual man’s disease (because a few years ago in developed countries the majority of people who had AIDS were homosexual men); these days the majority of the population who suffer from AIDS are innocent victims: men, women and children in the developed and developing world.   Out of the 39.5 million people who were living with AIDS by the end of 2006,
19.5 million infected with AIDS were found to be men (over 15 years), 17.7 million were found to be women (over 15 years) and 2.3 million were found to be children (under 15 years).  

People living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2006



The impact of HIV/AIDS can been seen in many societies today, especially where prevalence is high.
It has significantly decreased life expectancy and has slowed economic growth, while increasing extreme poverty and a variety of...