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Name: Lily Fleenor
How did I get involved in IMPACT?
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Name: Suraya Mohidul
How did I get involved in IMPACT?
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ABOUT HIV/AIDS AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY
HIV, otherwise known as human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks cells that aid in the body’s immune defense mechanism. This causes a person to become more vulnerable to infections and diseases that they should normally be able to fight off. Within a few weeks of HIV infection, which can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids, flu-like symptoms occur. Once this is over, the disease is usually asymptomatic until it progresses into AIDS. AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is usually the aftermath of an untreated HIV infection. AIDS is a chronic condition which allows more opportunistic infections to invade your body, potentially resulting in a life-threatening condition.
TERMS TO KNOW:
- HIV - HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus and it attacks the body’s CD4 cells, weakening one’s immune system
- AIDS - AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This is the most severe stage of HIV where the infected individual’s immune system is weakened to the point where common infections can result in life-threatening conditions
- ART - ART stands for antiretroviral therapy, a treatment that can dramatically slow the disease's progress, prevent secondary infections and complications, and prolong life by reducing the viral load in your blood.
- MSM - MSM means “men who have sex with men”
- STD vs. STI - STD stands for sexually transmitted disease, whereas STI means sexually transmitted infection. Not all diseases begin with infections, but many do
- CD4 cell count - The CD4 count is a measure of the condition of your immune system. When you have a CD4 count lower than 200 cell/mm3, you will receive an AIDS diagnosis.
- PrEP - PrEP, otherwise known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a pill that is taken every day in order to prevent the transmission of HIV. Studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken daily.
- PEP - PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. This drug is taken within 72 hours of potentially being exposed to HIV to prevent becoming infected.
MORE ABOUT HIV/AIDS AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY
United States Facts and Figures
- There are an estimated 1.2 million people affected in the United States, of whom 15% are not aware.
- All STDs are preceded by STIs, but STIs do not necessarily become STDs.
- HIV may not be symptomatic for long periods of time, but persons affected can still be carriers.
- There are an estimated 1.2 million people affected in the United States, of whom 15% are not aware.
What does this issue look like in Memphis?
- In 2018, there were 6,090 people living with HIV in Memphis.
- In 2018, 304 people were newly diagnosed with HIV
- In 2015, Memphis ranked No. 8 for newly diagnosed HIV cases and No. 12 for AIDS cases
What does this issue look like in Athens?
- There were 2,698 persons in Georgia diagnosed with HIV in 2017, for a rate of 31.2 per 100,000 population age 13 and older. There were 1,152 diagnosis of stage 3 (AIDS) in Georgia during 2017
- Georgia in General
- In 2017, 2,698 people in Georgia were diagnosed with HIV.
- 77% of these cases were male, 22% were female, and 1% were transgender
- 23% of those diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed with AIDS within 12 months, most of those diagnoses being considered “late.”
- In 2017, Georgia led the United States in the number of persons with HIV/AIDS per 100,000 people with an average of 24.9.
OTHER EDUCATION SOURCES
Fight HIV Stigma through Access, Mobilization and Equity by Allison Mathews HIV & AIDS - signs, symptoms, transmission, causes & pathology Local Data: Memphis, TN
INTERSECTIONALITY
Certain groups of people are more affected by HIV than others. This could be because they engage in high-risk behaviors such as injecting drugs, or because they are marginalized by society and fearful of accessing HIV services.
Key affected populations
- Men who have sex with men (MSM): Homosexual acts are illegal in more than a third of countries, preventing men who have sex with men (MSM) from accessing HIV services.
- People who inject drugs (PWID): 14% of all people who inject drugs are living with HIV. People who inject drugs are repeatedly denied access to harm reduction programs.
- Sex workers: Sex workers are 12 times more likely to be living with HIV than the general population and are difficult for HIV services to reach.
- Prisoners: Incarceration increases HIV vulnerability, especially when prisoners engage in high-risk behaviors like injecting drugs.
- Transgender people: Being transgender is strongly associated with stigma and discrimination. Transgender people also lack access to tailored HIV services.
- Women and girls: Women are often vulnerable to HIV due to unequal gender relations which affects their ability to negotiate condom use.
- Children: 160,000 children became infected with HIV in 2016, the majority of which were from mother-to-child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Young people and adolescents: Young people are a priority for HIV prevention messages because it’s most effective to change behavior before sexual debut.
- People with disabilities: There is growing evidence that people with disabilities are likely to be at higher risk of HIV infection than able-bodied people.
HIV stigma and discrimination
Forms of stigma and discrimination: self-stigma/internalized stigma; governmental stigma; restrictions from entry, travel, and stay; healthcare stigma; employment stigma; community and household stigma
Key points:
- There is a cyclical relationship between stigma and HIV; people who experience stigma and discrimination are marginalized and made more vulnerable to HIV, while those living with HIV are more vulnerable to experiencing stigma and discrimination.
- Myths and misinformation increase the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV and AIDS.
- Roughly one in eight people living with HIV is being denied health services because of stigma and discrimination.
- Adopting a human rights approach to HIV and AIDS is in the best interests of public health and is key to eradicating stigma and discrimination.
Homophobia and HIV
Key points:
- Homophobia is "the irrational hatred, intolerance, and fear" of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and is a form of discrimination.
- Acts of homophobia happen at an individual, cultural, structural or legal level and pose a major barrier to accessing and delivering HIV services.
- Not only is homophobia damaging to public health, but studies have also shown that there is an economic cost to homophobia which can significantly reduce a country’s GDP.
- It is a human rights necessity for countries to adopt better community-based education strategies, in addition to legal reforms, in order to combat homophobia.
Gender inequality and HIV
Key points:
- Women and young girls continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa
- Financial disparities and intimate partner violence in relationships often hinder a woman’s ability to negotiate condom use and protect herself from HIV
- Gender inequality in education and restricted social autonomy among women is directly linked to lower access to sexual health services, including HIV testing and treatment
- Although commitments to reduce the effects of gender inequality have been made by the international community, there is a need to significantly scale up efforts as social injustices and violence against women continue to persist across the globe
Human rights and HIV
Key points:
- International human rights laws and treaties give every person the right to health and to access HIV and other healthcare services.
- Human rights violations in the context of HIV include the criminalization and enactment of punitive laws that target people living with and most affected by HIV. It also includes stigma and discrimination in the workplace and in healthcare services, gender inequality, and the denial of access to HIV services.
- Human rights-based HIV programs should be implemented to avoid inequalities or discrimination, and when countries fail to meet the human rights requirements for people living with HIV they should be held legally accountable.
