HIV/AIDS Factsheet
HIV/AIDS
HIV: According to estimates by the World Health
Organization,1 33.4 million people around the world
are currently living with HIV, and 25 million have
died thus far of HIV related causes.2 Sub-Saharan
Africa accounts for 67% of people living with HIV,
and 60% of those people are women.3,4 Unless
dramatic action is taken by funding countries like the
US to scale up treatment and prevention, this global
pandemic will continue to spiral out of control,
devastating the lives of tens of millions of people
worldwide.
The disease: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, more commonly known as HIV, is the
virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV is transmitted
through bodily fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. It is not
contagious through everyday contact, like a hug, handshake, or sharing a glass with
someone. HIV multiplies within its host’s body, attacking the immune system and
causing it to become weak and prone to other infections. AIDS refers to the advanced
stages of HIV, when other infections like Tuberculosis take advantage of the weakened
immune system and attack the HIV positive person, or when the level of CD4+ T cells,
vital for the immune system, drops below a certain level.3 Infections like these are called
“opportunistic infections” and are the ultimate cause of death for most people with
AIDS.
New infections:
There are an estimated 2.7 million new infections each year.5 HIV is transmitted in a
variety of ways:
 Unprotected sex: heterosexual sex remains the main method of HIV transmission in
sub-Saharan Africa.4 Both men and women are susceptible to getting HIV through
unprotected sex.
 Mother to child transmission: Nearly 500,000 children are infected with HIV each
year, over 90% of whom get infected through mother to child transmission.1 Mother
to child transmission is when the fetus or child gets infected with HIV during
pregnancy, labor and childbirth, or breastfeeding.
 Injection drug use: accounts for 10% of all new infections, and in some areas, like
Eastern Europe, this number is much higher. Around the world 16 million people use
injection drugs and 3 million of them are estimated to have HIV. The fact that sex is
often used in exchange for drugs or money also creates a transmission bridge for
HIV between people who inject drugs and people who do not.1
The problems:
Vulnerable populations: Outside of sub-Saharan Africa, HIV infections are
disproportionately high among men who have sex with men, sex workers, and injecting
drug users. Globally women make up about 50% of people living with AIDS, but make
up more than half of new infections.2
HIV/AIDS
Lack of knowledge: Many people who are HIV positive do not know that they have
been infected; in sub-Saharan Africa only an average of 22% of the population ages 15 –
49 has been tested for HIV in the last 12 months.1 This is due to a variety of factors,
including lack of knowledge among the population about the ways they may have been
exposed, the availability of confidential testing services, and the stigma and fear related
to being diagnosed with HIV.6 Many also lack information about how to protect
themselves from HIV. Of all new infections in adults, 45% are among youth ages 1524,7 and according to a broad survey done through 64 countries, less than half of youth
possess basic accurate information knowledge about HIV, like the fact that condoms
help prevent transmission. Abstinence only programs, which were promoted by the US
under President Bush’s administration and some of which continue to be funded by US
foreign assistance, perpetuate this problem.2 Youth, especially young women, who lack
financial independence or educational opportunities, often turn to transactional sex (sex
for money or food) to support themselves or their families. Transactional sex puts youth
in an exceptionally vulnerable position, one where they are often having unprotected sex
with an older partner and have little or no power to negotiate the use of condoms.6 The
early marriage of girls similarly puts them at very high risk by initiating sexual activity
at a young age, generally with an older man, in a relationship where they often cannot
negotiate the use of condoms. In sub-Saharan Africa female youth are three times as
likely as males their age to be HIV positive.6
Poverty: At least 95 percent of new HIV infections occur in developing countries.6
Poverty increases susceptibility to HIV/AIDS in a number of ways. General poor
nutrition and the existence of other diseases and infections, especially sexually
transmitted diseases or genital infections, weaken the immune system and make
individuals more vulnerable to contracting HIV. Poverty also usually means limited
access to information and health services that help to prevent HIV transmission.8
Drug use: The fact that the use of injection drugs like heroine is illegal in most
countries creates barriers to access prevention and care for drug users. In some countries,
even the possession of syringes for non-medical purposes is illegal even though the
criminalization of syringe possession has been tied to a higher incidence of needle
sharing.9 In addition, many countries require complete abstinence from illegal drugs in
order for an individual to be eligible to receive Antiretroviral Treatment (ART). This is
based on both widespread discrimination against injection drug users and on the fact that
ART has been shown to be less effective when the recipient is also using illegal drugs.8
Lack of HIV prevention resources: Once individuals know how they can protect
themselves from HIV, they need the tools to be able to do so. Health clinics in
impoverished areas frequently have a shortage of condoms and of testing services,
making prevention difficult even with knowledge.
Shortage of HIV/AIDS treatment
As of the end of 2009, there were about 5 million people receiving Antiretroviral
Therapy (ART). Although this is more than ever before, it still accounts for just
under half of the number of people that need ART.10 Since there is no cure for AIDS,
antiretroviral therapy must be taken for the duration of the patient’s life. This means
that the demand and financial burden for AIDS treatment will continue to expand as
treatment is provided to more patients and will only begin to decline once
transmission has been dramatically slowed or stopped. However, at the current rates,
for every two people that begin to receive ART, five more are infected with HIV.2
Opportunities:
HIV/AIDS
Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV/AIDS
o Antiretroviral therapy works by preventing the HIV virus from multiplying within an
individual’s body, allowing the HIV/AIDS positive person to live a healthy life for
many years, sometimes decades. ART stops the advance of HIV, but it cannot cure a
person or rid their body of the virus. The medicines must be taken on a strict
schedule, and if the individual ever stops taking them, the HIV virus will begin to
multiply once again, meaning that the individual has to take ART for the rest of their
lives to keep the virus at bay.4
o ART for people living with HIV and AIDS can reduce the chances of them passing
the infection to their partner by 92%.9
Pre and post natal care, ART for pregnant mothers
The chances of mother to child transmission can be reduced to less than 2% by
treatment with ART during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.11 Access to
these medicines as a part of pre and post natal care is needed in order to stop mother
to child transmission.1
Comprehensive sex education, especially focused on youth
Since 45% of new infections are among youth ages 15 – 24, youth are a clear choice
for education programs. It is difficult for youth around the world to access essential
HIV prevention tools like testing services, sexual education and condoms because of
social stigmas around the sexual activity of youth, financial and geographic barriers,
and knowledge of services. Youth oriented education programs targeting youth both
in and out of the school system have been shown to be effective in Namibia, Brazil,
and other places.6
Harm reduction programs for drug users
Providing clean needles and syringes for injection drug users reduces the chance of
HIV transmission since it can be transmitted through blood. and other blood borne
diseases. Providing ART to individuals who inject drugs also diminishes the chance
of them transmitting the infection to someone else.8
Availability of condoms, female condoms, testing services
When used consistently and correctly, male condoms are 80% effective in
preventing HIV transmission.1 Female condoms have an equivalent level of
effectiveness, but need to be more widely available and as affordable as male
condoms. Testing services must not only be available but be confidential and
integrated into all clinics and primary care facilities, as stigma prevents many from
coming forward to be tested.
Male circumcision
Studies have shown that male circumcision reduces a man’s likelihood of getting
HIV through sexual intercourse by 60%, as long as the circumcision is fully healed.12
Bring down medication prices
In 2001 the World Trade Organization agreed to pass the Doha Declaration, allowing
countries to break patents and produce generic versions of patented life-saving
medicines, thereby bringing down the price of treating HIV patients in their
countries.13 However, not all countries have the capability to produce their own
generic versions of HIV medications, and providing universal access to medication
remains a huge financial burden.
HIV /AIDS
Relevant legislation:
o
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was a five-year
program launched in 2003 to combat HIV around the world. It allocated 50
billion dollars over five years to combat HIV/AIDS, and it remains the largest
commitment in history of a single nation to combat a single disease. During the
period of 2003 – 2008, PEPFAR focused on 15 primary countries, 12 of which
were in sub-Saharan Africa, and it supported the provision of treatment to more
than 2 million people, care to more than 10 million people, and prevention of
mother-to-child treatment services during nearly 16 million pregnancies.14
In 2008, as the original timeline for PEPFAR was running out, the Lantos and
Hyde US Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
Reauthorization Act was passed, allocating another $48 billion for 2009 – 2014
and expanding the focus to include Tuberculosis and Malaria. The evolving
strategy of PEPFAR includes efforts to integrate HIV/AIDS programs into other
general health programs and to build more sustainable country programs focused
on strengthening country governments and health systems in order for countries
to take a greater ownership of US funded programs. It also aims to continue
expanding the number of people receiving ART, care, and prevention
education.13
o Global Health Initiative: The GHI, established in 2008, assigned $63 billion
dollars over the course of six years in order to “help partner countries improve
health outcomes through strengthened health systems.”15 It implements a women
and girl centered approach and expands on PEPFAR to include, Malaria,
Tuberculosis, Child Health, Nutrition, Family Planning and Reproductive Health,
and Neglected Tropical Diseases in addition to HIV/AIDS.14
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund)
The Global Fund is an international financial entity created in 2000 specifically to
fight AIDS, TB, and malaria. They receive funds from donor country governments
and foundations and distribute the funds via grants to organizations and governments
battling these three diseases.16
o The United States is by far the largest donor to The Global Fund. As of 2010 the US
has donated $4.3 billion out of a total of $15.7 billion donated by the international
community.15
What AIDemocracy is doing:
Learn how to contact your elected officials, how to generate media coverage of
global AIDS issues, and how to mobilize your communities to get more involved by
utilizing the Global AIDs Alliance Activist Toolkit.
Ask President Barack Obama, to commit $6 billion to the Global Fund over the next
3 years.
Contact your members of Congress and urge them to continue exercising leadership
on this critical issue.
“HIV/AIDS: Topics” http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/en/
Fast Facts about HIV treatment. UNAIDS.
http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FastFacts/default.asp
3
Temin, Miriam, and Ruth Levine. “Start With a Girl: A New Agenda for Global Health.” Center for
Global Development. 2009.
4
“HIV/AIDS: Q & A” http://www.who.int/features/qa/71/en/index.html
5
2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic. UNAIDS: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/GlobalReport/2008/2008_Global_report.asp
6
“Universal access to AIDS treatment: targets and challenges” AVERTing HIV and AIDS.
http://www.avert.org/universal-access.htm
7
Youth and the Global HIV/AIDS Pandemic. Advocates for Youth.
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=427&Itemid=177
8
Professor Baker, Brook. “Poverty, Racism, Globalization, and macroeconomic fundamentalism:
Structural determinants of the global AIDS pandemic.”
9
Injecting drugs, drug users, HIV & AIDS. AVERTing HIV and AIDS.
http://www.avert.org/injecting.htm
10
“Treating AIDS is Preventing AIDS” May 27, 2010. http://www.healthgap.org/press/hiv-treatment-isprevention.htm
11
Antiretroviral drugs for treating pregnant women and preventing HIV infection in infants: towards
universal access: Recommendations for a public health approach (2010 version) World Health
Organization. http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/mtct/antiretroviral2010/en/index.html
12
Male circumcision for HIV prevention. http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/malecircumcision/en/index.html
13
“Fact Sheet: Trading Away Access To Medicine” Health Gap. http://www.healthgap.org/resources.htm
14
About PEPFAR. http://www.pepfar.gov/about/index.htm
15
Fact Sheet: The U.S. Government’s Global Health Initiative. http://www.usaid.gov/ghi/factsheet.html
16
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/about/?lang=en
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