HIV/AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus, meaning that once an individual is infected, the virus begins to take over the cells' genetic material and the cells themselves begin to produce more retrovirus. This process of infection may take 8 to 15 years. During this time, the person generally looks and feels perfectly healthy; however, the virus slowly begins to weaken the person's immune system. The individual becomes increasingly vulnerable to a multitude of secondary infections and diseases. Once an individual has a very severely impaired immune system and/or begins to develop a series of illnesses common to people infected with HIV, the person is diagnosed with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

HIV is transmitted only through the exchange of bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. Any act (vaginal intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, pregnancy and childbirth, consuming breast milk, and receiving blood transfusions or organ donations) involving the transfer of bodily fluids can lead to infection. Unfortunately, there are many common myths that have managed to cloud this clear message. HIV cannot be transmitted by casual contact, by sharing eating utensils, or by donating blood. The most common means of HIV infection worldwide is heterosexual intercourse.

HIV infection has become so widespread throughout the world that it is classified as a pandemic. According [Page 245]to United Nations figures, there were approximately 36.1 million people infected with HIV and AIDS worldwide in 2000, and new infections occurred at a rate of 15,000 per day (Jaffe & Harold, 2001). The majority of these cases were in the developing countries of the world, particularly the sub-Saharan African nations such as South Africa and Botswana. During this same time period, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated there were 800,000 to 900,000 individuals in the United States infected with HIV and 774,467 diagnosed with AIDS. Many of those infected are young people, and approximately 50% of the individuals infected yearly worldwide are younger than age 25 years.

Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable to infection for a variety of developmental reasons. Nearly all of the risk factors for infection are behaviors that begin during the teen years. Because of youths' imagined invulnerability, most young people do not perceive themselves to be at risk, even when participating in behaviors likely to lead to infection. Sexually active young people often fail to use proven means of protection, such as latex condoms, when engaging in risky behavior. Adolescents who have older sexual partners are at particular risk because these older partners typically have more risk factors for infection, and young people in these relationships tend to rely on the older partner to make decisions and are less likely to use protection. Adolescents have the population's highest infection rate of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the effects of having another STD make an individual more likely to develop HIV. In addition, the immature reproductive system of adolescent girls makes them more likely to contract HIV. Sexual behavior under the influence of alcohol and recreational drugs is very common in young people. Intoxication greatly increases risk-taking behaviors (i.e., increases the likelihood of sexual activity, increases the number of sexual partners) and greatly reduces protective behaviors (i.e., using a condom).

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