At the Mountain (ATM)

STARTING ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT FOR HIV What is antiretroviral treatment? Antiretroviral treatment (also known as antiretroviral therapy or ART) are the drugs that treat HIV. Many people living with HIV are taking treatment and staying healthy as a result. Current treatment for HIV is not a cure for HIV, but it can keep HIV under control very effectively.ART works by keeping the level of HIV in your body low (your viral load). This lets your immune system recover and stay strong.many people with HIV are living just as long as people who don’t have HIV.You can continue to have relationships, to work or study, to make plans, to have a family whatever you would have done before your HIV diagnosis. Effective treatment also means that some people living with HIV are achieving an undetectable viral load. This means that the virus exists in such small quantities in their blood that it does not affect their health and there is zero risk of transmitting the virus on to others. But rememb...

ABCD method of prevention by Mbuthia. The method has been advocated for as the best means for preventing and controlling HIV infections. The A-Abstinence This is refraining totally from sexual intercourse which is considered the best way to prevent transmission of HIV. Abstinence means not engaging in any sexual activity in which there is direct or theoretical risk of exposure to blood semen and vaginal fluid B-Be faithful. It should include two partners who have tested negative they should enter into strictly monogomous relationship .It only works if both partners are known to be uninfected when their sexual relationship begins neither partner had sex even one time outside the primary relationship C-Condom use during intercourse can greatly reduce chances of acquiring or transmitting HIV and STD. Although the latest generation consider going 'meat for meat' they should be aware of the risks involved hence should consistently use a condom after every intercourse and the...

EFFECTS OF DISCLOSING ONE IS HIV POSITIVE When one declares that they are HIV positive, there are always positive and negative effects that follows. These effects cause various changes among the victims. The positive side of disclosing you are HIV positive is as follows One may reduce the possibility of spreading HIV to others for example, one would avoid multiple partners and stick to family or one person who probably could be affected to avoid the danger of spreading. The government may come in and give or add more healthcare services to cater for the affected. This is when they get the number of them that are affected. It may bring psychological satisfaction giving peace and rest to the victim having knowledge that others know about their situation and maybe are helping out in the situation. One is empowered to empower others – when one discloses his positive status, he has the mandate to educate and warn others concerning the effects of and repercussion of HIV. The affected i...

All pregnant women with HIV should take HIV medicines to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission and to protect their own health.HIV medicines don’t increase the risk of birth defects.Pregnant women with HIV can use the same HIV regimens recommended for non-pregnant adults unless any side effects experienced. Cesarean delivery   (C-section) is scheduled to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and it is recommended for women with high or unknown viral loads near the time of delivery. For 4 to 6 weeks after birth, babies born to women with HIV receive an HIV medicine called zidovudine (Retrovir). The HIV medicine protects the babies from infection with any HIV that is passed from mother to child during childbirth.HIV testing for babies born to women with HIV is recommended at 14 to 21 days of life, at 1 to 2 months, and again at 4 to 6 months. The HIV test (Virologic test) looks for HIV virus in the blood.The results of at lea...

CONDOMS AND HIV Condoms are physical barries that ruduses the risk of a sexual expossure to HIV reason they are made of material that dont allow HIV to pass through.However, there is much less protective inconsistently or incorrectly.They either also provide protection from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Types of condoms we have two types of condoms available to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. 1.The external condom/male condom-its made from polyurethane/latex which covers the penis during sexual intercourse. 2.The internal condom/female condom-this is a pouch made of polyurethane or nitrile.femal condom can also be used for anal sex.one end of the pouch is open and the other closed with a flexible ring at both ends.The ring at the closed head is inserted into the virgina or anus to hold the condom in place.in this case,the ring at the open end of the pouch remains outside the vagina or anus. How condoms help prevent sexual transmission of HIV Labolatory...

BASIC RIGHTS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS        People living with HIV infection and AIDS should have the same basic rights and responsibilities as those which apply to all citizens of the county. Liberty, autonomy, security of the person and freedom of movement. People living with HIV /AIDS have the same rights to liberty and autonomy security of freedom of movement as the rest of the population. No restrictions should be placed on the free movement of HIV- infected people and they may not be segregated, isolated or elsewhere merely because of their HIV-positive state. 2.confidentiality and privacy. People with HIV infection and AIDS have the right to confidentiality and privacy about their health and HIV status. Health care professions are ethically and legally required to keep all information about clients or patient confidential. Information about a person’s HIV status may not be disclosed to anybody without that persons fully informed consent. ...

NUTRITION OF  PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS... If your are HIV positive ,nutrition and HIV is a subject you'll want to pay attention to.That is because your body will undergo changes,both from medications and disease itself.For example,you may experience extreme weight loss,infections or diarrhea.Another common change is lipodystrophy (fat distribution syndrome) which can cause body shape changes and increases in  cholesterol levels making improvement in your diet can improve health and how well you feel. Why nutrition and HIV/AIDS are linked 1.Improve your overall quality of life by providing nutrients your body needs. 2.Keep your immune system stronger so you can better fight disease. 3.Help manage HIV  symptoms and complications. 4.Process medications and help manage their side effects. Basic principles if nutrition  and HIV.. The basic principles of healthy eating will also serve you well if you are Hiv-postive ..This principles include; a.Eating  a...

H O W HIV/AIDS AFFECTS THE EDUCATION SECTOR There are four main 'institutional arenas' that collectively determine how the AIDS epidemic will affect the supply of and demand for education, namely the household, community, school, and government. The epidemic could lower the demand for schooling in three main ways: • Smaller student intakes: Lower fertility levels will lead to smaller than expected cohorts of six year olds over the next few decades. In the worst affected countries, it is anticipated that the school-aged populations will actually contract. • Impact on students: As the numbers of orphans, caregivers and children with AIDS related illnesses increase, the educational performance of these children is likely to deteriorate. More specifically, intake rates could fall and repetition and dropout rates increase. • Level of poverty: Parents and guardians will be poorer because of the macroeconomic impacts of HIV. They will be less able therefore to support thei...

PUBLIC STRATEGIES TO PREVENT HIV/AIDS INFECTION Strategies refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.     According to the global HIV prevention working group,when assembling a national HIV prevention plans each country should prioritize access to proven prevention strategies,tailoring the targeting and scale-up of HIV prevention to particular national circumstances and needs. They provided a roaster of a proven HIV prevention approaches which includes a range of measures.These include: Preventing blood to blood transmission -Provision of clean injection equipments to injection drug users. -methadone or other substitution therapy for drug dependence. -Blood safety(include screen of donated blood). -Infection control in health care settings (including injection safety,universal precaution and antiretroviral prophylaxis following potential HIV exposure. -Follow universal precaution which includes; Use of protective equipments....

Cognitive impairment in people living with HIV Background Cognitive disorder are common issue impacting those living with human immune deficiency virus[HIV] effective antiretroviral treatment has lessened the severity but not the frequency of these impairment. Such deficits reduce quality of life and present a significant challenge to clinicians in the context of an ageing HIV population with a growing number of co morbidities. Source of data This review is based on recent published literature in the field of HIV associated cognitive impairment [hand] Areas of agreement The pathogenesis of HAND is a multifactorial and can be categorized into HIV viral factors antiretroviral factors and individual factors. The risk factors associated with HAND are well documented. Areas of controversy The prevalence of HAND in HIV population studied and assessment batteries used. Disease progression is poorly understood and has important implication for screening programmes. The relative contrib...

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS Ever since the beginning of AIDS epidemic in 1981, the number of people infected and affected with HIV/AIDS has increased sporadically. During the course of infection, a broad range of physical, social and physiological needs and problems is experienced. Changing nature of the illness imposes a variety of psychological and emotional strains on individuals and those closest to them. Guidance and counselling of the people living with HIV/AIDS is therefore more paramount than in any other disease since AIDS is seen more as a psychosocial phenomenon than a disease. HIV/AIDS guidance and counselling is a dialogue between a client (HIV positive individual) and a care provider aimed at enabling the client to cope with stress and to make personal decisions related to HIV/AIDS.  The counselling process includes the evaluation of personal risk of HIV transmission and the facilitation of preventive behavior. The process involves two ma...

CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. The number of kids who are infected with HIV is going down since 2015 . It's the leading cause of death among preteens and teens there. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, damages your immune system, so you can't fight infections and some cancers well.But with the right combination of drugs and loving support, kids with HIV can grow up to live long, fulfilling lives. CAUSES. Most children who have HIV got it from their mother when she was pregnant, during the birth process, or from breastfeeding. Children can be infected through sexual abuse or rape. In some countries, child marriages are culturally accepted, and a young girl could get HIV from her older husband, and then pass it to her babies, too. The younger a child is when they first have sex, the higher their chances of getting HIV are. SYMPTOMS. Brain or nervous system problems such as seizures, trouble walking, or doing poorly in school. Being sick often with childhood illnesses s...

PROGRESS IN CURING HIV       Advance over the last 30 years have helped transform HIV from fatal disease into a chronic manageable condition for many people. Innovation in treatment and access are at the care of this progress. The advent of antiretrovial therapy (ART), once - daily single tablet regimes with three medications combined into one pill and many subsequent improvements in single tablet regimes combining efficacy and longterm safety represent some of the most significant milestones that have helped bring radical change in the outlook for people living with HIV Progress in treatment has been transformative, but significant gaps care still remain. HIV continues to be a major global public health issue  Globally it's estimated that more than 36 million people are living HIV with acute challenges. With the goal of reducing the individual and societal burden of HIV,prevention of new infectious is as important as treating those who are living with HIV....

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS TO THE COMMUNITY HIV/AIDs is costly to most families and society at large. When the patients are in the period of illness, medical costs are very high and the income of the family goes down. After death ,funerals are also costly hence creating burden on family and also relatives. Income is lost and assets are sold or rented in order to get cash. For poorer and rural households, the ability to cope with external shocks such as draught or increase in price of staple product will be reduced further. This section sets out some of the economic condition that follows HIV/AIDS. Shifts in spending: The burden of medical and related expenses induces changes in family spending patterns .As medical expenses climb, spending on other items tends to decline. Households with an AIDS sick member were found to reduce spending on necessities. The most likely expenses to be cut clothing’s and other services. Some of the effected families reduced spending on food...

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND RESPONCES ON HIV/AIDS This section gives on action oriented measures to be employed by the government in the area of law, administrative policy and practice that will protect The government will guide those people who are infected with Hiv /Aids by setting the following rules No criminal   law violation in the context of HIV/AIDS Translation of human rights to codes of conduct regarding HIV/AIDS issues Education of people affected by HIV/AIDS about their rights including free legal service Address on public Health issues related to HIV/AIDS e.g Tuberclosis outbreak Availability of qualitative preventive measure and services at an affordable price Human Rights Relevant to HIV/AIDS Countries have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfill all human rights including HIV/AIDS related Freedom of opinion and expression and the rights to freely receive and impart information Equal access to education Free from torture and cruelty in human or deg...

PREP AND PEP Pre-exposure prophylaxis [Prep] is the course of HÎV drug taken by negative people to prevent infection.  It can virtually eliminate the risk of getting HIV If taken consistently and correctly. But it cannot protect you from other sexual transmitted infections such as hepatitis c, gonorrhea etc. condoms are still the best protection from this STIs. Prep is not taken or life, it’s only for a short period when a person may be at high risk of HIV infection. Truvada is currently the only drug approved for use as Prep. Truvada is a single pill that is a combination of two anti-hIv drugs: tenofovir and emtricitabine. Prep has shown to be highly effective, reducing the risk of contracting HIV by 92%. Prep can prevent HIV infection during both vaginal and anal sex, but these drugs in Prep are absorbed much more effectively by rectal tissue than vaginal tissue. This means the option for how you take Prep are different depending on the sex you have. To prevent HIV infection th...

The term ‘hormone’ broadly refers to any type of chemical messenger, but is most often used to denote chemicals produced by the endocrine glands. Under production of endocrine hormones can contribute to a wide variety of medical conditions. Diseases such as HIV that affects the whole body can interfere with proper endocrine function, and hormones in turn can affect disease progression. According to research done some aspect of HIV genome replication.  REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION Reverse transcription and integration are the defining features of the retrovirus. The molecular mechanisms responsible for the replication of HIV and related mammalian retroviruses and to investigate the role of host proteins that block virus infestion.This study will help to identify new targets for anti-HIV therapy and currently focused on several broad areas in interest. [1]Reverse transcription and the role of the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein in this process. [2] Molecular characterization, biological ...

HIV AIDS and Lesbianism. Lesbianism is a term which describes sexual attraction between women and it can also be used to describe sexual activity between women. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. Like any other sexual activity, sex between lesbians can be a mode through which HIV is transmitted. The vulnerability of lesbians to HIV infection is a complicated public health issue that is ignored by many parties involved because it is not highly documented. In fact, research from phylogenic analysis says that female to female sexual contact enhances HIV transmission compared to male to male or male to female.     Historically confirming, HIV transmission in lesbian sexual activity has been difficult to gauge because other risk factors cannot be ruled out such as sexual intercourse or other common modes of transmission such as sex toys. More over data on its transmission shows that HIV between lesbians are rare though there are few reports and cases of female to female on ...

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HIV/AIDS AMONG THE YOUTHS Young people are the disproportionately affected by HIV globally. whereby 25% of infected person are between age [10-24] for these is where the youths are more sexually active and they live their lifes without care on what being in relationship is all about but instead they take it as away of having fun. The young people are vulnerable to HIV/AIDs at two stages of their lives ,early in the first decade of life when HIV can be transmitted from mother to child also known as vertical transmission and the second decade of life is when adolescence brings new vulnerability to HIV .low HIV and sexual health knowledge is the key barrier to reducing HIV infection among the young people. This disease is the leading cause of death among the youths due to ignorance to go for the HIV test due to fear. something which they should be doing atleast to know their status and  for them to start using antiretroviral drugs incase found to be positive to help prevent the gro...

IMPACTS OF HIV ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. Universties function as a microcosm of the larger society within which the institution exists.As such universities will therefore feel the impact of HIV/AIDS on many different level.There is little doubt that the epidemic will make its mark on the bottom-line of the university. Remember that the impact of HIV will depend on the severity of the epidemic in the country and within the institution. Some of the impacts are;         -Increased cost.         -Reduced productivity.         -Threatens source of income.         -Reduced learner participation in class         -HIV/AIDS and university social life;In many countries the culture of  university campuses appears to be ambivalent about sugar daddy practices,sexual experimentation,prostitution on campuses,"unprotected casual sex",gender violence,multiple partnership and similar high risks...

According to World Health Organization (WHO), the developing countries have the highest number of HIV/AIDS infections in the whole world. There are approximately 32 million people living with the virus in these countries. The worst hit regions include Sub-Saharan Africa, Caribbean, and South-East Asia. The countries with the highest HIV prevalence rates and the largest number of HIV-positive people in these regions include South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, Ghana, Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Haiti, India, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The spread of the virus decreased from 15% in 1990 to around 8% in 2015, but more than 6 million new infections occur every year in these countries. This is according to Center for Disease Control (CDC). Factors that Fueling the Spread of HIV/AIDS Includes: 1.Ignorance Most people living in these regions are fully aware of the disease, but they c...