Concepts of Culture and Disease Paper: AIDS

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The Agent of AIDS
Factors that make Africans more vulnerable to AIDS
Environmental Factors
AIDS Transmission
Controlling the Spread of AIDS
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Civilization and globalization have their own benefits. For example, due to civilization, the worlds poorest countries are now the richest due to the industrial revolution. On the other hand, people’s life is now comfortable due to globalization in space explorations, advanced medical science research, and the digital revolution. These and many other developments by human beings, make life easier and adorable. However, with all advances in life, one anomaly has for years, curtailed life’s full happiness. From Africa to America, Asia to Europe, Australia to South America, diseases continue to threaten life while taking some.

One of the deadliest diseases that has so far claimed numerous lives all over the world is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Scientists and medical researchers argue that AIDS came into research discovery in 1980. Of course, it is not conversant in the medical science field, how it came into existence especially among human beings. (Kalipeni, 2003. pp. 5-21).

Statistics carried out by United Nations agencies indicate that over 35 million people live with this dangerous disease currently. Of great wonder is the majority of Aids victims live and work in Africa. Where civilization and globalization penetrate less, there are high chances of AIDS thriving there in full strength. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, about three million people live with the disease, the highest percentage per population in the whole world. The paper will examine AIDS factors like its cause, manner of spread, symptoms, treatment, and the population affected within Africa. (Guss, 1994, pp. 490-495).

Indeed, as far as Africans are concerned, AIDS is a dangerous disease that epitomizes communities, societies, and nations. Some communities and individuals condemn malpractices that cause more spread of AIDS. However, in general, African governments and non-governmental organizations with the help of the United Nations Department of AIDS, UNAids, continue to educate Africans on the spread, symptoms, and other AIDS factors.

The Agent of AIDS

It is widely accepted and believed that the virus Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the real agent of AIDS. However, some medical researchers and scientists claim otherwise. Generally, HIV virus causes AIDS in complicated situations. AIDS is a condition whereby, the body’s immune system is powerless due to the HIV virus becoming detrimental to the cells. (Weiss, 1993, pp.1272-1280). A situation where the body cannot at any occasion, execute body functions properly, is termed AIDS.

In Africa, the virus is more dangerous because of genetic factors. Due to high poverty levels in Africa, many African have weak body immune systems. This is because; poverty cannot enable poor Africans to strengthen their immune system with different kinds of food. Instead, most of them afford only one type of food, which cannot make their body immune system strong, at least to fight the virus. The HIV virus can at times replicate into two types. The first one is HIV-1, which spreads easily and is more pandemic across the globe. The second type is of course HIV-2 which scientists consider less virulent. (Hunt, 2009, Para 1-9).

Factors that make Africans more vulnerable to AIDS

Indeed Africans are more vulnerable to HIV and AIDS. Some of the contributive factors include poverty, famine, hunger, poor medical conditions, overpopulation leading to the spread of other communicable diseases, and poor planning methods. For example, in Africa, customary practices are the main contributors to HIV virus spread. (Lawn, 2004, pp.2-14).

Practices like wife inheritance still take place in modern Africa. Under this scenario, if a woman is suffering from AIDS syndrome, there will be infection to a non-infected person through sexual contact. Another practice that makes African women more vulnerable to AIDS, is the practice of female genital mutilation. Many of the infections that do occur among Africans especially in sub-Saharan Africa are due to ignorance and outdated traditional practices.

Environmental Factors

In sub-Saharan Africa, numerous environmental factors contribute to the spread of AIDS. Environmental factors seem to be psychological in the sense that, certain environmental conditions of an individual sometimes define the lifestyle of such an individual. Drunkards participate in unordinary practices including unprotected sex. Chances of catching the virus under this unsowed state are next to a hundred percent.

The use of hard drugs and chemical substances common in Africa makes populations venerable to HIV and AIDS. Other environmental factors include the use of condoms. If an individual has a wrong perception towards condom use, there are great chances of having non-protective measures. As a result, one is prone to virus infection. Overall, environmental factors influence the mind to make decisions regarding something. For example, due to poverty, most women engage in unprotected sex as a way of making a living. By doing this, they subject themselves to HIV and AIDS and become carriers of the disease, spreading it to other sexual partners. (Health24, 2010, para.3).

AIDS Transmission

AIDS can transmit from an infected person to a non-infected person in various forms. Important to note is that AIDS is real and can never be a curse or another traditional anomaly like some belief in Africa. The main mode of HIV transfer is through sexual contact with infected person-heterosexual sex. For AIDS to infect a non-infected person there must be fluid exchange. The HIV virus thrives well in fluids.

During sexual intercourse, vaginal secretions from a female are exchanged with the semen of a male being. All types of sex, oral, vaginal, or anal sex with an infected person under unprotected sex, leads to HIV virus transmission. The HIV virus stays in lymphocytes cells of vaginal secretion and semen. This makes it possible for transmission during sexual intercourse in case one is a carrier. In Africa, this is the easiest mode of transmission. Unprotected sex between unknown partners is the main reason why HIV infection is high in sub-Saharan Africa. (Appey and Sauce, 2008, pp.230-235).

Another node of HIV and AIDS transfer is through blood transfusion. Before blood transfusion takes place, doctors must screen blood from individual blood. If the blood is free from HIV infection, transfusion can then take place but only under clean and sterile conditions.

Drug addicts are also prone to virus infection. This happens when they use used syringes in injecting drugs into their body. Needle and razor blade sharing is another simple way of being infected with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa for example, due to poverty, a whole family uses a single needle to do ear piercing, jigger removal, and other activities. If one member infected with the virus uses the needle, anybody using it next, just before the virus dies, will infect ultimately.

Breastfeeding is also another form of transmitting a virus from an infected mother to a child. During breastfeeding, the virus rich in mother’s milk can infect a sucking child. An infected mother should never breastfeed, as the child will be prone to more danger of catching the virus. Due to negligence and sometimes ignorance, sub-Saharan infected mothers infect their children with HIV viruses unknowingly. Few cases can occur in developed countries as their healthcare facilities prove scientific and advanced than in sub-Saharan Africa. (Appey and Sauce, 2008, pp.235-240).

On some occasions, an infected mother can infect an unborn child with a virus. According to scientific studies, this can occur during the last days to delivery. In developing and developed countries, healthcare facilities administer antiretroviral drugs to expectant mothers to avoid child infection. During delivery, instead of normal delivery, doctors do caesarian delivery to avoid blood contact between the mother and the child.

Although this is an expensive method, a child is free from infection. In Africa where poverty looms, expectant mothers deliver even at home without attending healthcare facilities even a single day. Organizations like UNICEF and UNAids are now beneficial in the region by offering information and financial assistance to expectant mothers.

Controlling the Spread of AIDS

HIV virus transmission through sexual intercourse is the main mode of AIDS transmission. To control this transmission mode, people’s perceptions and practices much change to realize change. People will have to stop peculiar traditional practices like wife inheritance, and perceptions that AIDS is a curse rather than a real disease. So far, there is no tangible cure for AIDS.

However, scientific research enabled the manufacture of antiretroviral drugs that reduce the virus effect in the body. Since there is no real cure for AIDS, practices like abstaining from sex, the practice of safe sex by using condoms are welcome to control its spread. There are female and male condoms manufactured with scientific knowledge to control the contact of vaginal secretions and semen. It is good to note, condoms do not provide a hundred percent protection from the HIV virus. (Cayley, 2004, pp. 1268-1269).

Another way of stopping the spread of HIV and AIDS is by educating people on the importance of having one sexual partner occasionally and always going for medical check-ups to know their safety.

Doctors can minimize HIV infection through blood transfusion by doing thorough blood screening before carrying out blood transfusion. From properly screened blood, HIV transfusion cannot occur. Infected people can at times retreat to revenge by infecting innocent people. For this reason, sex education is necessary which will impart new knowledge on the safe way to live with the virus. HIV viruses cause weakened immune systems. This system, attacked by other diseases, fails to fight back, and as a result, an individual can die. (Barton, 2001, Para. 7-15).

In sub-Saharan Africa, people infected with HIV use traditional herbs and different types of food to control the virus effect in the body. Nevertheless, largely, the method is a success in prolonging the life of infected people. With the introduction of antiretroviral drugs, many sub-Saharan Africans now use these drugs to control the multiplication of the virus in the body.

On social and cultural views, Africans do recognize that AIDS is a dangerous disease. Through this belief, very many Africans do not prejudice which mode of treatment they receive. At times, those who are infected with the virus receive poor treatment from fellow society members. Traditional African beliefs like AIDS transmitting through shaking hands and sitting beside an infected person, cause more segregation and denial from society. This forces the victims to seek treatment elsewhere, away from their community. Different and diversified views on different AIDS treatments do not affect societal beliefs. Largely, many Africans are now educated and aware of AIDS, courtesy, African governments, United Nations, and international non-governmental organizations n AIDS. (Kumaranayake & Watts, 2001, pp.454-463).

Conclusion

AIDS is a threat to sub-Saharan Africans. Millions and millions of people catch the virus in the HIV virus responsible for AIDS through fluid contact. Traditional practices in Africa have largely contributed to the spread of HIV and AIDS. That HIV transmits through body fluid contact is a fact whose debate is non-existent. To reduce HIV infections, Africans must change their practices that lead to infection.

Traditional practices like wife inheritance just create room for HIV transmissions. Social and cultural settings if not stopped will continue to hinder AIDS control in Africa. If Africans change their perceptions on HIV as a whole, the probability of infection will be minimal. Nevertheless, since there is no cure for the virus, control measures act as an alternative to AIDS control in Africa.

References

Appay, V., & Sauce, D. (2008). Immune activation and inflammation in HIV-1 infection: causes and consequences. Journal of Pathology. 214 (2): 231–41

Barton, P. (2001). How Aids Cab Be Stopped or Controlled. Rasta Times. Web.

Cayley, W.E. (2004). Effectiveness of condoms in reducing heterosexual transmission of HIV. American Family Physician 70 (7): 1268–1269

Guss, D. (1994). The acquired immune deficiency syndrome: an overview for the emergency physician. Journal of Emergence Medicine, 12 (4), 490–495

Health24. (2003). Factors affecting safer sex choices. Web.

Hunt, R. (2009). Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Does HIV Cause AIDS? Microbiology and Immunology On-line. Web.

Kalipeni, E. (2003). HIV and AIDS in Africa: beyond epidemiology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Kumaranayake, L, & Watts, C. (2001). Resource allocation and priority setting of HIV/AIDS interventions: addressing the generalized epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of International Development, 13 (4), 454–463.

Lawn, S. (2004). AIDS in Africa: the impact of coinfections on the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 48 (1), 2–14.

Weiss, R.A. (1993). How does HIV cause AIDS? Journal of Science, 260(5112), 1272-1280.

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