HIV/Aids

Global inequalities

lindsey mccormac

May 7, 2020

What are HIV/AIDS?

What is HIV?

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, our body's natural defence against illness. In the majority of cases, HIV is a sexually-transmitted infection. However, HIV can also be transmitted from a mother to her child, during pregnancy or childbirth, or through breastfeeding. Non-sexual transmission can also occur through the sharing of injection equipment such as needles.

If HIV is left untreated, a person's immune system will get weaker and weaker until it can no longer fight off life-threatening infections and diseases.

Testing regularly for HIV means you can get antiretroviral treatment if you need it and stay healthy.

AIDS describe a set of symptoms and illnesses that happen at the final stage of HIV infection if left untreated

5 facts to fight the myths

HIV/AIDS is one of the world’s most fatal infectious diseases

Almost 1 million people die from HIV/AIDS each year; in some countries it's the leading cause of death. This is particularly the case across Sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease has had a huge impact on health and life expectancy in recent decades.
Click here to read some facts about current trends in HIV/AIDS

Of the 37.9 million people living with HIV in the world, 19.6 million are girls and women.

Click here to view infographic

In the bar chart we see death rates by age group. The group most at risk are 15 to 49 year olds – typically younger adults, since HIV is primarily a STI, where unsafe sex is the main risk factor.

But death rates are also higher for young children under five years old because HIV can be transmitted from mother-to-child if the mother is infected.

Death rates from HIV/AIDS 1990-2017

Death rate from HIV/AIDS

Click on the map above, watch the change over time in death rate from HIV/AIDS from 1990-2017. Notice the changes in numbers across regions in the world. You can click specific countries to help identify them. What changes have occured in distribution of death rate from HIV/AIDS between 1990 and 2017?

Change over time

Global deaths from HIV/AIDS halved within a decade. The world has made significant progress against HIV/AIDS. Click on 'change country' in the graph above to see how different places have been affected over time. When did the world reach its peak in global deaths from HIV/AIDS?

Deaths from HIV/AIDS change over time

HIV/AIDS and the SDGs

The sustainable development goals (10 of which relate to HIV/AIDS)

"A core principle of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and of the AIDS response, is that no one should be left behind. The AIDS epidemic cannot be ended without the needs of people living with and affected by HIV, and the determinants of health and vulnerability, being addressed. People living with HIV often live in fragile communities and are frequently discriminated against, marginalized and affected by inequality and instability. The AIDS response has advanced the right to health, gender equality, human rights, employment and social protection. It has addressed entrenched social norms, social exclusion and legal barriers that undermine health and development outcomes, and its investment approach is increasingly being adopted to accelerate gains across global health and development."

The United Nations system, including UNAIDS, works towards achieving the entire SDG agenda, which include 10 SDGs that are particularly relevant to the response to AIDS. Read more about them here .

Focus on Botswana, Africa

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Africa and HIV/AIDS

The continent of Africa is on the the hardest hit regions of the world in terms of the impact of HIV/AIDS

Botswana

A landlocked country in Southern Africa.

Natural environment

Botswana is home to landscapes such as the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango River Delta, a lush animal habitat in the flood season. Nearly 40% of the country is made up of national parks and wildlife reserves which provide plenty of large areas for animals to roam.

Population

Population: 2.3 million. (note: estimates take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS which can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex).

One of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Approx 10% live in the capital city, Gaberone.

Today Botswana has the third highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world at approximately 22%, however comprehensive and effective treatment programs have reduced HIV/AIDS-related deaths.

Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world five decades ago into a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 in 2017. It also ranks as one of the least corrupt and best places to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Take a tour of Botswana

To get to know the country a bit better you are going for a virtual drive around the capital Gabarone and some wildlife parks too. There are some small activities for you to complete at most locations.

Click here to get started... https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&authuser=0&mid=zZnlNr1kPUd0.k9bomEFHAuo8

…and then click on the first location icon.

Geography Now! Botswana

Find out more about the country here:

Central Intelligence Agency

Page last updated on April 28, 2020 Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name at independence in 1966. More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa.

https://www.cia.gov

HIV/AIDS in Botswana

Click on the link below to find out about the current situation with HIV/AIDS in Botswana:

HIV and AIDS in Botswana

KEY POINTS Botswana is still one of the countries most affected by HIV in the world, despite its provision of universal free antiretroviral treatment (ART) to all people living with HIV. The epidemic is firmly established in the general population, with women and young women disproportionately affected.

https://www.avert.org

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Botswana has had a significant impact of the population strucutre of the country. Here you can see a projected population structure with and without AIDS.

The increased mortality rate due to AIDS can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would normally be expected. The difference is shown by the shades of blue.

How did Botswana's HIV/AIDS crisis get to this point?

Watch the video clips and read the document below to collect notes on the following:

factors affecting the spread of HIV/AIDS in Botswana (SHEEPT factors)
impact of the disease (short term/ long term, people and place)
any information on how the country has responded to the crisis (e.g. government, NGOs)

The AIDS Epidemic in Botswana Is Out Of Control (2001)

Back in 2001, the HIV/AIDS situation was dire in Botswana. Watch this video to find out about the impacts and factors affecting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

HIV/AIDS In Botswana 2010

Women and HIV: Fighting the epidemic in Botswana

Botswana miners struggle with HIV/Aids - 04 Dec 08

Read pages 2-10 of pdf (actual doc pages 23-31) of the document below:

Accept Terms and Conditions on JSTOR

JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources.

https://www.jstor.org

Recent changes

Botswana recognizes LGBTQ rights, leading the way in southern Africa

Botswana is a small country by population, but a big one by its role in the history of multi-party democracy and human rights in southern Africa. Botswana, although it did not sacrifice as much as many of the other frontline states, just got bigger.

https://theconversation.com

How is Botswana and the world responding to its HIV/AIDS situation?

I will add to this section later...