Saturday, July 4, 2009

Do the HIV/AIDS statistics through out the United States bother you

Do the HIV/AIDS statistics through out the United States bother you?
I mean, wouldn't you think with all of the HIV prevention programs out in the world that people would be a little more careful? I must say, I find it disturbing how many people are infected with HIV per year.
Infectious Diseases - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Not as much as the ones in Africa!!
2 :
yes, but its stupid peeople always think IT WONT HAPPEN TO ME, dont take a risk use a condom, dont share needles check up now and again..with the doc
3 :
I must Agree with Charlene but Africa has dropped its HIV rates incrediably now it is Brazil which has the highest AIDS rate... United States isn't bad at all!!! in fact in Brazil 1 in 5 people have Aids... only like 1 in 30 people in America... you be the judge? :)
4 :
I do HIV education and testing. It is sometimes frustrating to see the number of people who still do not know how HIV is and is not transmitted, even though it is now 2009, not 1983. Some people still believe the only risk factors are homosexuality and sharing needles for drug use. Still others believe that it can be transmitted by saliva, and even by casual contact. Many people do not get tested because they believe they are not at risk, or "It won't happen to me". Others are so fearful of finding out that they have HIV that they avoid the testing. Still others believe that because treatment is so successful for so many people, they don't have to worry about getting sick because they can just take a pill everyday and live to be 100. (I always let my clients know that progress has been made, and people with HIV are living longer, healthier, but that that does not mean that everyone will react the same way to the virus and to the medications. I want to give clients hope without giving them permission to continue their reckless behavior.) Not getting tested is very risky, because in addition to lack of knowledge (or misinformation) about HIV transmission, lack of symptoms creates a situation in which people who are infected continue to pass the virus to others without realizing that they themselves are infected. Another big issue is drug addiction. In the middle of addiction, people often focus so much on getting drugs or the money for drugs that they will do anything to get money or drugs, including having sex with strangers, and pay no attention to the consequences. People who use drugs often make decisions and do things while using that they would not do while sober. It is also possible that they could have "blackouts"--periods of time while using that they are conscious, but that once the drugs have worn off, they do not remember what they did or with whom. The situation in Africa is very disturbing to me. Many people in Africa believe that having sex with a virgin will cure them of the virus. This myth results in a high rate of rape of young people and the spread of the virus.

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