EFFECTS OF HIV IN THE SOCIETY
Effects of HIV/AIDS to the society
Introduction
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Two strains of the virus, HIV-1 and HIV-2, have been described. AIDS is a human disease in which there is gradual failure of the body’s defense (immune) system thereby leading to severe and fatal opportunistic infections and cancers. Infection with HIV occurs through coming in contact with infected body fluids such as blood, breast milk, and sexual fluids such as pre-ejaculate, semen and vaginal fluids. The key modes of transmission are unsafe sex with infected person-both heterosexual and homosexual, contaminated items such as needles and razors, breastfeeding, and infected mothers infecting the newborn during birth.
Impact to society
Infection with HIV usually has a huge physical, mental, social and economic impact on infected individuals, their families as well as the community in which they live.
Impact of HIV on Individual and Families
Infection with HIV/AIDS leads to numerous bodily, mental and social issues that affect the individual and impacts on their families and communities at large. In the contemporary society, the definition of a family shifts from the traditional structure of biologically related members to include socially chosen relationships, for instance, close friends, partners, and close external family relationships such as homosexual men
The impact of the HIV treatment is further aggravated by other factors such as worry about employment, sexuality, the prospects of relationships, and the social reactions of other community members.). Members of the family may also be burdened by giving care to the infected as the disease advances, and they may be distressed by the stigma often associated with HIV infection.
Another impact of HIV is the stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS. Apart from having to endure treatment with severe side-effects, they constantly have to cope with rejection and social discrimination. People with HIV/AIDS have to put with being labelled as “victims” a term that implies defeat, helplessness and dependence upon help from others
Stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS greatly hinders efforts to successfully battle the HIV and AIDS pandemic. This fear of discrimination frequently averts individuals from seeking treatment and management of AIDS or from publicly disclosing their HIV status. On numerous occasions, the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS can extend to the family and siblings of the infected individual, creating an emotional burden on those left behind. HIV/AIDS-related stigma modifies over time as infection levels, understanding of the disease and treatment availability vary.
Economic Impact of HIV to the society
HIV/AIDS has had the greatest negative effect on the economies of many countries all over the world. The pandemic has been devastating for many nations where it has caused deep poverty both to the individual, families and community. The magnitude of economic and demographic impact of HIV/AIDS infection in third world countries is pronounced due to the fact that it affects persons in the most economically able and productive age. Besides, it is also weighing down on the economic and health gains made in the last few decades. People with HIV/AIDS create a profound burden for public finances, especially in the sector of health. In a number of Caribbean countries, HIV/AIDS patients take up as many as a quarter of existing hospital beds.
Many other countries are using huge portion of their economic resources in providing treatment and care for people with HIV/AIDS.
The economic impact is poverty, a reduction in investments and savings, and rise of unemployment in vital industries such as agriculture and manufacturing
The economic impact of HIV is greatly felt by the individual and their families. HIV/AIDS in many cases results in loss of income of the breadwinners and increase in expenditures as a result of caring for the infected. Families affected by HIV deplete their savings and assets in order to cope with increased expenditure and income shocks. Firm profits, savings and investments may reduce due to increase AIDS-related expenditure and lower labour productivity
Impact of HIV on Parenthood and Children
HIV-positive women were faced with their HIV status and the expected bleak outcome of death. The number AIDS-related deaths, however, has drastically gone down in women living with AIDS due to HAART; they now live longer healthier lives.
Among the women in the reproductive age who are living with HIV, the decision about pregnancy is becoming an important one; this due to reduction of the risk of vertical transmission of the virus to the newborn.
Parenthood in HIV infected people is still eliciting many physical and social effects especially due to stigma and discrimination associated with the virus
religious beliefs, children one had before, the position of spouse and health care providers, and apparent spouse capacity to parent successfully.
HIV/AIDS has greatly changed parenthood. Research findings shows that close to seventy percent of all HIV infected parents regarded their family planning to be over, since they did not plan bear any more children, sixteen percent were undecided, while fourteen percent had an explicit longing to have more children
Children who are infected with HIV either during birth or later through breast milk now have a chance to survive up to adolescence owing to better treatment regimes. This means that more adolescents increasingly have to cope with the virus.
Children living with HIV/AIDS have a high risk of death from opportunistic infections. The virus affects the children psychologically and leads to neurological impairment; as a result, they have pronounced cognitive insufficiency or diminished cognitive abilities, have behavioral difficulties, and have a general low quality life.
Children living with HIV may also experience challenges in leading a normal life due to the medication they must use regularly as well as problems that result from disclosure of their HIV status
The other main impacts of HIV on motherhood are ethical concerns about the possible danger of spreading the virus to the newborn, the socioeconomic impact, concerns and stigma associated with bringing up a child by a parent who has a potentially fatal disease.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has greatly contributed to increase in the number of orphans universally. In Africa alone, there are over twelve million children orphaned by AIDS pandemic. The children are left destitute; at times the elder adolescents have to take up the parenting roles while majority are taken care of by their extended family members or foster parents. This long term care causes economic difficulties as financial resources are strained.
Impact of HIV on Caregivers and Healthcare Sector
The major impact of HIV on the caregivers is stigma; usually referred to as secondary stigma or stigma by association. Parents of people living with HIV may be held responsible for the ‘immoral’ behavior that led to infection of their children with HIV.
stigmatization as a primary concern for the caregivers. Rather than face stigmatization, caregivers may try to conceal their care giving activities by withdrawing from social relationships. In clinical practice, family caregivers may exacerbate demands of care giving by driving long distances to avoid community awareness of their care recipient’s HIV status.
Caregivers of HIV-infected children also face stigma. primary caregivers of children with HIV infection dealt with the stigma of AIDS while managing their anxiety and fear of loss. Bore much burden of care and faced many difficulties because of limited resources.
Conclusion
Annually, across the world, many individuals get infected with HIV; thousands living with HIV develop AIDS. The impact of contracting and living with this virus hugely challenging and depends on the society the infected person lives in. The impact may determine the effectiveness of the management program, adherence to the treatment regimen and prevention of new infections. The major challenges are to encourage HIV testing for the risk groups, encourage status disclosure, availing a timely and effective management and care to all people living with HIV/AIDS, to endeavor in developing contemporary prevention methods that consider the variable patterns of the pandemic, and to eradicate the economic, physical and psychosocial impacts of HIV infection. Policies should incorporate the needs of individuals, families and the community in order to effectively address the impact of HIV on various sectors.
Naomi
Introduction
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Two strains of the virus, HIV-1 and HIV-2, have been described. AIDS is a human disease in which there is gradual failure of the body’s defense (immune) system thereby leading to severe and fatal opportunistic infections and cancers. Infection with HIV occurs through coming in contact with infected body fluids such as blood, breast milk, and sexual fluids such as pre-ejaculate, semen and vaginal fluids. The key modes of transmission are unsafe sex with infected person-both heterosexual and homosexual, contaminated items such as needles and razors, breastfeeding, and infected mothers infecting the newborn during birth.
Impact to society
Infection with HIV usually has a huge physical, mental, social and economic impact on infected individuals, their families as well as the community in which they live.
Impact of HIV on Individual and Families
Infection with HIV/AIDS leads to numerous bodily, mental and social issues that affect the individual and impacts on their families and communities at large. In the contemporary society, the definition of a family shifts from the traditional structure of biologically related members to include socially chosen relationships, for instance, close friends, partners, and close external family relationships such as homosexual men
The impact of the HIV treatment is further aggravated by other factors such as worry about employment, sexuality, the prospects of relationships, and the social reactions of other community members.). Members of the family may also be burdened by giving care to the infected as the disease advances, and they may be distressed by the stigma often associated with HIV infection.
Another impact of HIV is the stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS. Apart from having to endure treatment with severe side-effects, they constantly have to cope with rejection and social discrimination. People with HIV/AIDS have to put with being labelled as “victims” a term that implies defeat, helplessness and dependence upon help from others
Stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS greatly hinders efforts to successfully battle the HIV and AIDS pandemic. This fear of discrimination frequently averts individuals from seeking treatment and management of AIDS or from publicly disclosing their HIV status. On numerous occasions, the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS can extend to the family and siblings of the infected individual, creating an emotional burden on those left behind. HIV/AIDS-related stigma modifies over time as infection levels, understanding of the disease and treatment availability vary.
Economic Impact of HIV to the society
HIV/AIDS has had the greatest negative effect on the economies of many countries all over the world. The pandemic has been devastating for many nations where it has caused deep poverty both to the individual, families and community. The magnitude of economic and demographic impact of HIV/AIDS infection in third world countries is pronounced due to the fact that it affects persons in the most economically able and productive age. Besides, it is also weighing down on the economic and health gains made in the last few decades. People with HIV/AIDS create a profound burden for public finances, especially in the sector of health. In a number of Caribbean countries, HIV/AIDS patients take up as many as a quarter of existing hospital beds.
Many other countries are using huge portion of their economic resources in providing treatment and care for people with HIV/AIDS.
The economic impact is poverty, a reduction in investments and savings, and rise of unemployment in vital industries such as agriculture and manufacturing
The economic impact of HIV is greatly felt by the individual and their families. HIV/AIDS in many cases results in loss of income of the breadwinners and increase in expenditures as a result of caring for the infected. Families affected by HIV deplete their savings and assets in order to cope with increased expenditure and income shocks. Firm profits, savings and investments may reduce due to increase AIDS-related expenditure and lower labour productivity
Impact of HIV on Parenthood and Children
HIV-positive women were faced with their HIV status and the expected bleak outcome of death. The number AIDS-related deaths, however, has drastically gone down in women living with AIDS due to HAART; they now live longer healthier lives.
Among the women in the reproductive age who are living with HIV, the decision about pregnancy is becoming an important one; this due to reduction of the risk of vertical transmission of the virus to the newborn.
Parenthood in HIV infected people is still eliciting many physical and social effects especially due to stigma and discrimination associated with the virus
religious beliefs, children one had before, the position of spouse and health care providers, and apparent spouse capacity to parent successfully.
HIV/AIDS has greatly changed parenthood. Research findings shows that close to seventy percent of all HIV infected parents regarded their family planning to be over, since they did not plan bear any more children, sixteen percent were undecided, while fourteen percent had an explicit longing to have more children
Children who are infected with HIV either during birth or later through breast milk now have a chance to survive up to adolescence owing to better treatment regimes. This means that more adolescents increasingly have to cope with the virus.
Children living with HIV/AIDS have a high risk of death from opportunistic infections. The virus affects the children psychologically and leads to neurological impairment; as a result, they have pronounced cognitive insufficiency or diminished cognitive abilities, have behavioral difficulties, and have a general low quality life.
Children living with HIV may also experience challenges in leading a normal life due to the medication they must use regularly as well as problems that result from disclosure of their HIV status
The other main impacts of HIV on motherhood are ethical concerns about the possible danger of spreading the virus to the newborn, the socioeconomic impact, concerns and stigma associated with bringing up a child by a parent who has a potentially fatal disease.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has greatly contributed to increase in the number of orphans universally. In Africa alone, there are over twelve million children orphaned by AIDS pandemic. The children are left destitute; at times the elder adolescents have to take up the parenting roles while majority are taken care of by their extended family members or foster parents. This long term care causes economic difficulties as financial resources are strained.
Impact of HIV on Caregivers and Healthcare Sector
The major impact of HIV on the caregivers is stigma; usually referred to as secondary stigma or stigma by association. Parents of people living with HIV may be held responsible for the ‘immoral’ behavior that led to infection of their children with HIV.
stigmatization as a primary concern for the caregivers. Rather than face stigmatization, caregivers may try to conceal their care giving activities by withdrawing from social relationships. In clinical practice, family caregivers may exacerbate demands of care giving by driving long distances to avoid community awareness of their care recipient’s HIV status.
Caregivers of HIV-infected children also face stigma. primary caregivers of children with HIV infection dealt with the stigma of AIDS while managing their anxiety and fear of loss. Bore much burden of care and faced many difficulties because of limited resources.
Conclusion
Annually, across the world, many individuals get infected with HIV; thousands living with HIV develop AIDS. The impact of contracting and living with this virus hugely challenging and depends on the society the infected person lives in. The impact may determine the effectiveness of the management program, adherence to the treatment regimen and prevention of new infections. The major challenges are to encourage HIV testing for the risk groups, encourage status disclosure, availing a timely and effective management and care to all people living with HIV/AIDS, to endeavor in developing contemporary prevention methods that consider the variable patterns of the pandemic, and to eradicate the economic, physical and psychosocial impacts of HIV infection. Policies should incorporate the needs of individuals, families and the community in order to effectively address the impact of HIV on various sectors.
Naomi
Testing should be widely encouraged and people sensitized on it's importance...even if one is found out to have contracted it it doesn't mean an end to everything Since one actually has a chance at living normally with aid from Antiretroviraldrugs
ReplyDeleteKaisy
Well said kaisy
DeletePeople living with HIV often feel nervous about telling others that they have HIV due to the fear of stigma or discrimination. This can lead to stigma and feeling unsupported which can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing.
ReplyDeleteHow then can we deal with stigmatization ?
DeletePlease include your name in the comments
We can deal with stigmatization by speaking to others with the same problem, joining a support group, getting counselling, helping others cope with the disease and acquiring knowledge and understanding the disease.
DeleteHIV infected persons really do drain the families involved both financially and emotionally. They Need special care and attention, the family associated with such people is sometimes neglected as others presume relating with them, might make them victims even though that are indirectly involved!
ReplyDeleteIf the community i,e churches, leaders, organize trips once in a while to go visits hospitals or various homes to come into close waters with the situation, face to face with infected persons, I think people would take HIV with the seriousness that comes with it and abstain completely.
Hellen
Economic research helps to estimate the effects of HIV/AIDS on the African economy and the cost effectiveness of prevention and treatment programmes
ReplyDeleteEconomic theory predicts that HIV/AIDS reduces labour supply and productivity, reduces exports, and increases imports
The pandemic has already reduced average national economic growth rates by 2-4% a year across Africa
Prevention and treatment programmes and economic measures such as targeted training in skills needed in key industries will limit the economic effects of HIV/AIDS
In most societies we tend to find that the families that are affected are mostly discriminated and stigmatized since they are assumed to be immoral since they assume that the person infected is immoral and start excluding them from the society . By; Samia
ReplyDeleteThe premature death of large numbers of especially young adults has an inevitable impact on those societies most affected by AIDS.
ReplyDelete1.Households and families:they bear the brunt of the misery caused by AIDS. Those who fall ill become unable to work, forcing family members to care for them rather than producing food or income.Families are also subject to discrimination if they have members who are HIV-positive, often facing reduced access to publicly available social and economic benefits.
2.Gender.More women than men are caretakers of people with AIDS, which may render them the burden of caring for children, the elderly and people living with AIDS -- as well as financial responsibility for their family's survival. Girl children or older women find themselves the head of households, and many girls from families facing poverty risk exploitation, especially sexual exploitation, when trying to bring in additional income. Mother-to-child transmission is also a concern.
3.Education.The epidemic is eroding the supply of teachers and diluting the quality of education. AIDS also reduces the amount of money available for school fees, and forces an increasing number of children -- more girls than boys -- to drop out of school in order to help at home. As teachers become ill and unable to work, some schools are close down.
4.Health sector.Since the beginning of the epidemic, millions of people have fallen sick and died of AIDS, placing ever-increasing demands on health services in the worst-affected countries. Often, this increased demand has stretched already over-burdened public health systems especially in third world countries.Overburdened public health systems further marginalize minority, disabled and elderly women with HIV/AIDS. HIV-positive people also lack access to medicines and to health care, often facing discrimination from hospital staff or health-care systems
Three million people died from AIDS in 2001, making it the world's fourth biggest cause of death, after heart disease, stroke, and acute lower respiratory infection.1 Over 70% of the world's 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS are in Africa (table (table1).1). Besides the human cost, HIV/AIDS is having profound effects on Africa's economic development and hence its ability to cope with the pandemic. While the impact of HIV/AIDS on people has been well documented, it has been much more difficult to observe the pandemic's effects on the African economy as a whole or to assess how it might affect Africa's future development. Nevertheless we need to understand these broader economic effects to form effective policy responses.
ReplyDeleteStigmatization and rejection are the main cause of hopelessness and helplessness that an HIV infected person can feel, the best solution to this is that the society should accept the HIV infected individuals and treat them equally as part of the society.
ReplyDeleteAs HIV/Aids has become a big challenge to the World,,, firstly the government should find way of reducing the economic impact of poverty among people living with Aids.,,maybe through provision of employment to them,,supporting the education system by giving out specific bursaries etc,,The society should avoid discrimination and show love,care and help where they can to support the people living with Hiv.Parents living with Aid should ensure that they dont transmitt the disease to their children whether unborn or born by christine
ReplyDeleteThe economy of our country is reducing rapidly because some of the workers maybe are not reporting to work because they are infected with Hiv and they are at the final stages.....BENSON WANJOHI
ReplyDeleteHiv has made the economy of many countries to go down since they are using a huge portion of their economic resourses in providing treatment n care of people living with hiv. Also the families of people living with hiv are left with a big burden since they have to care n provide for this people.
ReplyDeleteFamilies are subject to discrimination if they have
ReplyDeleteMembers who are hiv positive
Also hiv contribute to threatening the basic live hood
of people living in developing countries especially
the poor.
HIV / AIDS in the long term leads to numerous social impacts on the community such increase in crime rates, poverty, drug abuse, illiteracy, reduced productivity and eventual collapse of social system. By Pauline mbithe
ReplyDeleteStigmatizatiin and rejection in the society among the infectd people tend to lower their self esteem and give them negative approach towards.something which shouldn't be the case for they need to be cared for and supported to enable them accept the fact that they have a opportunity to still live a normall life by taking antiretroviral drugs and live a positive life
ReplyDeleteHIV affect the economy of a country because most of the people affected are the young who are very innovative and creative hence leading to low economic growth
ReplyDeleteHIV affect the economy of a country because most of the people affected are the young who are very innovative and creative hence leading to low economic growth
ReplyDeleteSociety should be educated and have ideas concerning infected people thus to reduce stigmatation, depression and to create a view on how they should live with people infected without judging them.
ReplyDeleteour society believe that people who are infected with HIV/AIDS are immoral and dirty and tend to discriminate them and demoralize them into thinking that they are incable of doing anything .We should really start to open their eyes and their ways of thinking .they are cable of doing everything they ever dream of doing.
ReplyDeleteSince HIV has a negative impact at social, economic and at individual level in the society, the government,private voluntary organizations,and non-governmental organizations should set up AIDS control programs to inform people the dangers of AIDS trough broadcasting on radio and television,publish in news papers,display on billboards and even visit villages across the country to educate people about HIV related issues.
ReplyDeleteEffect of HIV in society are:
ReplyDelete1)Difficult in finding personnel for local govt process
2)Decline in school attendance particular girls in8-15 yes
3)increased orphans
4)changes in pples perception of personal safety
5)Increased demand of medine
6)increased death rate
7)Unavailability of pple in places of work
8)inability to meet family obligations
The government should ensure the supply of testing kits is widely done and encourage the use of them and the importance of testing, also the government those infected with the disease to use ARVs.
ReplyDeleteHIV/AIDS has two efects,that is positive and negative effects in the society,buh has led to negative effects both social,economical and political.HIV has led many families,societies and many countries to be poor in terms of financial e.t.c HIV has led high death rate,dropping out of schools and crime rates.BY FAITH
ReplyDeleteSome societies have different beliefs which leads to spread of hiv like female circumcision ,,this actually increases the spread of hiv .......by Immaculate
ReplyDeleteThis people who are infected are also huma beings that need support and understanding to them is a great relief since they have decided to come public not to b discriminated but to bring a lesson to the people out there who are negative to learn a lesson from them. Faiza
ReplyDeletePeople should know their status and community should not look down on those infected to reduce depression and stigmatation..zamzam
ReplyDeletePeople living with HIV in the society face stigmatization and discrimination which lowers their self esteem and courage to live. The society instead should support them and treat them as usual people.
ReplyDeleteMaureen
Across the world thousands are living with HIV ,policies should incorporate the needs of individuals, families and the community in order to effectively address the economic, physical and psychological impacts on HIV infection on Various sectors.
ReplyDeleteMARY MUSYOKA
Across the world thousands of people are living with HIV. Policies should incorporate the needs of individuals, families and the community in order to effectively address the economic, physical and psychological impacts of HIV on various sectors.
ReplyDeleteMARY MUSYOKA .
For the economic side it lead poverty, a reduction in investment and saving arise of unemployment in a vital industries such as agriculture and manufacturing........ By Rahma
ReplyDeleteWe should give hope to those who are infected by the disease so that they are not demoralised and disappointed bcz sometimes it is not their fault to get the disease it may happen they were born with it
ReplyDeleteThe family of the inffected people bear the burden of caring meeting their medical bills and raising their children.this normally have a toil on them both mentally physically and financially.
ReplyDeleteMaking hiv test routine concerns and implications more over close to 40% of people who test positive for hiv are diagnosed with in just one year of developing full blown aids and the majority of those who get an hiv test late in course of their infection do because they are already ill .by Zahara
ReplyDeleteUse of antiviral medication really improves one's health but also if one is at medication if tested right away the virus can not be seen and one can not tell if the patner is positve or not,leading to people practising open sex ending up victims of HIV patients.
ReplyDeleteChildren in communities affected by AIDS who have lost parents and family members are also more vulnerable to HIV infection. They may lack caregivers, access to school, or the ability to stand up for their rights. Therefore the society should come in and take care of this children effectively.
ReplyDeleteHIV/AIDS has led to some effects one of the effect is that when one realises that he or she has the virus, stigmatization comes in the victim's self esteem lower and feels demoralized. Secondly it affects the education of the infected person due to his /her condition.
ReplyDeleteThe HIV/AIDS pandemic has greatly contributed to increase in the number of orphans in the society. The children are left destitute, at times the elder adolescents have to take up the parenting roles while majority are taken care of by their extended family members or foster parents. This long term care causes economic difficulties as financial resources are strained. The children become fully deprived of the care, guidance and protection of their parents and social problems begin to crop up. The children find themselves prematurely out of school.
ReplyDeleteThose infected experience stigmatization but they can gain courage and see life in a postive way.Being infected with HIV does not simply mean the end of life,u can leave a positive life since there is availability of ARVs
ReplyDeleteHiv affects economic growth by reducing human capital.
ReplyDeleteBy Zamzam Ahmed
Hiv have realy affected our social life by reducing the productive of our sociaty since the people whom we depend on they are sick hence they can not go for work,,this make productivity to go down
ReplyDeleteI was diagnose April 10,2015 and find out Im HIV positive.I was scared because there is no cure for HIV/AIDS but today some people still dont believe that there is cure for HIV, it can only be cured through Africans root and herbs,and our doctors here in USA few of them knows about the African herbal medicine can cure Hiv but they chooses to hide it from us just to make a sales of ARV DRUGS. I did a research online finding way to get rid of my disease,I saw a comment about a herbal doctor on internet Name Dr Ofure who has cured several disease with his powerful herbal medicine, I contacted him on whats-app, chat with him explain my self to him.He said he can cure HIV perfectly well , he gave me his request which i send to him. within 5 days he sent me the herbal medicine through ups courier delivering service And told me how to take the medicine for 3 weeks to get cured,I did for 3 weeks, within this 3 weeks i notice a very big change in my health and i new some thing great has happened then i went to confirm my result it was absolutely Negative.The doctor who new i was hiv positive was asking me how come i am negative, what did it took to get cure and were did i get this medicine from and how did i get rid of it I told him every thing about the herbal medicine that cure me. imagine doctor telling me not to let anyone know about it,I wasnt shock though i knew they know about the herbal cure but chose to hide it in other to make sales on ARV DRUGS,if you are HIV positive please contact him on his via email drofureherbalhome@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteor WHATSAPP him through this number +2348162868851