With all these factors affecting the transmission of HIV/AIDs in women, who make up 52 percent of people living with HIV/AIDs internationally, it is time for the science community to find medical and societal methods to help. Many women do not have viable alternatives to breastfeeding, which causes concern for HIV positive mothers as breastmilk can pass the virus to an infant. These concerns do not just end with delivery. Complications from the virus itself, as well as the medications, may affect not just themselves, but also their unborn child. Unlike their male counterparts, many women living with HIV also have to deal with the realities of mother-to-child transmission. Social economic structures compromise their ability to effectively protect themselves from HIV infection. In parts of the world where the epidemic is most prevalent, women may not be empowered to negotiate safe sex practices. In addition to biologic differences, women often face different social pressures that can affect their HIV treatment and prevention options. These are just a few biological differences that affect HIV medication in men and women. There are many recognizable biologic differences such as the influence of hormones which can interact with antiviral medications, the physiologic changes during pregnancy that can alter both disease and drug response, and the differences in how effective drugs may be in preventing different routes of HIV transmission. Treatment or prevention interventions effective among men may not be as effective among women. Women need to be included for HIV/AIDs measures to effectively control this epidemic. This is largely driven by the epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, where young women are disproportionately affected, being two to three times more likely to be infected than young men in the same age group. More women in this age group are dying from HIV/AIDS than heart disease, car accidents or cancer. Perhaps the most sobering statistic: HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death in women ages 15-44, their complete reproductive period. Similarly, approximately 50 percent of the new infections every year afflict women. Globally, the statistics are quite different 52 percent of the people living with HIV are women. In the United States, women make up approximately 25 percent of the people living with HIV. Undoubtedly, the lack of a female face with HIV is partly due to the demographics of the epidemic. One recognizable woman, out of more than 100 names online. Her life tragically ended at age 26 as a result of AIDS-related complications. From all my polling, Mimi, a character from “Rent,” was the only female that any of my acquaintances could name.Īfter a Google search of celebrities with HIV/AIDs, I had only found one additional name - Gia Carangi, who is credited with being the world’s first supermodel. I took an informal poll among some friends, family and colleagues, asking them to name one famous or well-recognized woman with HIV. Iconic people with HIV/AIDs who come to mind likely include Magic Johnson, Freddie Mercury, Rock Hudson and Charlie Sheen. A part of continuing awareness and advocacies for HIV is to include those who are not normally associated with HIV/AIDs: women. This community has provided an unparalleled support system and have been a relentless advocate for awareness and funding.įor many within and outside the LGBTQ community, HIV is now a chronic, manageable disease. In many ways, much of the success in the fight against HIV/AIDS for the past three and a half decades can be attributed to the cultural association of HIV/AIDS with the LGBTQ community. Melanie Nicol The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has integrated itself into our culture in a way that arguably no other infectious disease has.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |