What is AIDS?
AIDS meand Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, it is a desease that destroys a persons ability to fight other infections through their immune system . The immune system is the body’s defence against diseases. Aids is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus usually called HIV.
How do you get AIDS
There are only three ways to get AIDS:
- Unprotected sex
- Contact between your blood and infected blood or bodily fluids
- Mother to child transmission
Unprotected sex
This is the most common way that a person can get HIV/AIDS. The virus lives in the fluids inside the penis and vagina and can easily enter your bloodstream .Using condoms properly is the only protection against this kind of infection.
Direct contact with infected blood
If you have an open wound and it is exposed to the blood of an HIV positive person, you can be infected. This contact could be through using the same needles for drugs. It is also possible to get HIV if you use the same razor blade or toothbrush as an HIV positive person if there are any traces of blood on them.
Mother to child transmission
Hiv positive mothers can pass the infection to their babies. An estimated 15 – 30% of mothers with HIV will transmit the infection during either the pregnancy or during chilbirth. Another 10 – 20% will pass the infection through breastmilk.
People most at risk
Anyone can get HIV/AIDS, but some people are more vulnerable than others. The groups who are most vulnerable and have the highest infection rates are:
- Young women between 15 and 30 years old
Many of these women are in unequal relationships where they cannot refuse unsafe sex or are exposed to sexual violence.
- Sexually active men and women who have more than one partner.
- Migrant and mine workers
Because they are seperated from their families for most of the year, many of them end up engaging in sex with sex workers.
Sex workers are exposed to many partners and are sometimes powerless to insist on safe sex.
- Drug users who share needles
One person who is HIV positive can infect a group of people who share the same needle unless it is sterelised in between usage.
AIDS in South Africa
HIV/AIDS in South Africa is a very big health concern because South Africa is believed to have more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country.
Just under 12% of South Africas population of 48million has HIV/AIDS.
An estimated 5.8million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country. It is believed that in 2009 an estimated 310 000 south africans died of AIDS.
Almost 1 in 3 women age 25- 29 and over a quarter of men aged 30 – 34 are living with HIV.
Bibliography
1. Deon Rossouw, Leon Van Vuuren(2010), Business Ethics 4th edition, Oxford University Press Southern Africa
