HIV/AIDS in the U.S

HIV/AIDS is often seen as a disease in which only happens in developing countries yet this is not the case. With an influx of transportation availability worldwide and large group of individuals not using STI protection during intercourse as well as use of dirty needles, the disease has spread from person to person on a consistent track. In order to stop a disease we cannot currently fully cure, the best way to at least slow down the progression of the disease is to know how to prevent new cases to begin with.

U.S AIDS Brief History

• First case reported in the U.S of AIDS: June 1981.
• Over 1.1 million infected in the U.S.
• Level of disease in nation: Epidemic (larger than expected incidence/prevalence of the disease)
• 648,459+ deaths

Incidence

• 50,000 new cases a year (stable rate in U.S)
• 44% Black, 31% White, 21% Latino

Prevalence

• 1.2 million infected with disease
• 1 in 7 are not aware of infection

Testing Sites

Possible sites/areas in which can provide screenings and overall resources (clean needles, condoms, testing, etc.). Most testing results' accuracy can range from 94%-99% accurate determining on which one is provided:

• Planned Parenthood
• Contacting primary care provider
• Local health departments
• Universities (events & clinics)

Protection

• Asking partner for testing information
• Condoms (Birth Control Pills do NOT prevent contraction of HIV/AID's and many other STI's)
• Drug users: Only inject sanitary and unused needles
• Avoiding exposure to seminal fluid & blood from infected individuals (viral load in blood usually lower than seminal fluid but not always the case)

Cost

• Programs that help pay cost: Medicaid, the Ryan White Program, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS Program, Medicare, etc.
• Estimated $12.1 billion annual cost
• Medicare spending on HIV/AIDS roughly $6.6 billion

References

 

How We're Spending. (n.d.). Retrieved December 21, 2014, from http://www.aids.gov/federal-

       

        resources/funding-opportunities/how-were-spending/

 

Financial Impact of HIV/AIDS. (n.d.). Retrieved December 21, 2014, from http://carm.org/statistics-

      

        financial-hiv-aids

 

The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved December 21, 2014, from

 

        http://kff.org/hivaids/fact-sheet/the-hivaids-epidemic-in-the-united-states/