GENDER AND HIV/AIDS:Symptoms of AIDS, Mode of Transmission

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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

Lesson 38

GENDER AND HIV/AIDS

In the last two lectures we talked about two major killers of today, namely Coronary Heart Disease, and

Cancer.

The main emphasis was on three things:

a) The preventable nature of the two and the role of lifestyles

b) Gender differences found in CHD and Cancer

c) Preventive measures that can help to avoid the development of these diseases, that can be deadly if

unattended i.e., examination and uptake of screening facilities along with a general awareness of the nature,

symptoms and risk factors involved are important .

Research has shown that if the inherent risk factors are not present, then these health conditions are caused by

our lifestyles to a great extent. In other words these diseases can be prevented if healthy lifestyles are adopted.

And in case someone develops these conditions, lifestyle changes can improve the quality of life as well as

longevity.

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is another major cause of death in many parts of the globe, affecting both men and women. It

involves both genders in terms of its impact. HIV/AIDS is another health condition that is lifestyle related and

in which gender differences are found. This is a health condition in which a very significant majority of the

sufferers develop it due to the habits and behaviors that they indulge into. Off course in some cases the person

becomes a victim without any fault of his/her own. In our discussion on HIV/AIDS, we will be focusing upon

the gender differences in risk. However we will also be looking into the nature of the disease, and its mode of

transmission.

What is HIV/AIDS?

Although most people are familiar with the two terms, in fact abbreviations, HIV and AIDS, most lack

accurate knowledge of the two. HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the viral agent, a retrovirus. AIDS

refers to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

AIDS is a disease, infectious in nature that is caused by HIV. It is not necessary that everybody who is HIV

positive (HIV+) will develop AIDS. In other words, an HIV+ person may die due to some other cause e.g., an

accident, without having developed AIDS. The person may not even be aware of the fact that he/she is HIV+.

People do not develop AIDS at the time when they contract HIV. It may take an HIV+ person five, or even

ten years, to turn into a PWA or person with AIDS. AIDS is a syndrome i.e., a collection of symptoms.

Therefore there is no `single' symptom, or condition that characterizes AIDS. A PWA may develop any

number of symptoms of a variety of conditions.

Till the early 1980s, AIDS was almost unknown. But in the following years the incidence and mortality rates

have been on a rise. It is a disease that has become a matter of international concern. The major reason for this

concern is its deadly, incurable nature. Besides, it is a condition that is preventable almost hundred percent.

What is HIV?

As said earlier, HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS. It is a retrovirus. "Retroviruses replicate by injecting

themselves into host cells and literally taking over the genetic workings of these cells. They can then produce

virus particles that infect new cells. After HIV enters the bloodstream it invades the T cells, incorporates its

genetic material into the cells, and then starts destroying cells' ability to function" (Sanderson, 2004, P; 408). "T

cells are responsible for recognizing harmful substances in the body and for attacking such cells, in part by

releasing NK cells. Although HIV is able to stay in the body in a latent and dormant state, it gradually starts

replicating itself, and in the process begins destroying the T cells" (Sanderson, 2004, P; 408-9).

In simple terms, HIV damages and destroys the cells responsible for the body's immune system, robbing it off

the defense against infections. As a consequence even the least serious infections can do a great harm to the

victim.

And that is the stage when the person is said to have developed AIDS.

The course of HIV/AIDS

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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

As already said, HIV may take quite long in turning into AIDS. How long it takes depends upon the condition

of the body and its immune system. There are a number of stages that the body goes through from HIV to

AIDS (Mc Cutchan, 1990).

Stage 1:

There are no clear cut symptoms. Within about a week after infection, symptoms like sore throat, fever, skin

rash, and headache may be experienced. Usually mild symptoms are experienced. This stage may last for one to

eight weeks.

Stage 2: Latent period

The latent period may last for as long as 10 years. During this stage the victim may remain asymptomatic, or

may experience minimal symptoms.

Stage 3:

At this stage a cluster or group of specific symptoms is typically developed e.g. painful skin rash, fever, fatigue,

swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, loss of appetite, persistent diarrhea, weight loss and white spots in the

mouth.

Stage 4:

The immune system is unable to cope with or fight off these infections. The T cell (CD4 + T-lymphocyte cell)

count drops down to 200 or less per cubic millimeter of blood, as opposed to the normal count of 1000 per

cubic millimeter.

This is the stage of full blown AIDS.

Symptoms of AIDS

Full blown AIDS is marked by a variety of opportunistic infections that may attack the sufferer. These

infections may involve the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, bones, nervous system and

brain. Symptoms may include general fatigue, greater weight loss, dry cough, shortness of breath, fever,

purplish bumps on the skin (e.g. Kaposi's sarcoma) and AIDS related dementia.

The symptoms can be divided into three categories:

Opportunistic infections

Opportunistic tumors

HIV related Encephalopathy

There is no known case of AIDS that recovered from this stage.

Mode of Transmission

i) Homosexual or Heterosexual contact

ii) Blood transfusion

iii) IV (intravenous) drug use when infected syringes are used

iv) From HIV+ mother to baby during the birth process

v) In rare cases, through infected mother's mild to infant

The main careers

Bodily fluids primarily blood, and semen. The centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1996), in the U.S,

data presented the cases of AIDS by mode of transmission in the world and the U.S:

World

U.S

Heterosexual

70-75 %

Homosexual

5-10 %

51 %

Homosexual & IV drug use

IV drug use

5-10 %

25 %

Blood Transfusion

3-5 %

Other

0-17 %

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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

Gender and HIV/AIDS Risk

Although many segments of the population are at a higher risk than other, we will be discussing only gender

differences in this regard. However research shows that three variables are important in the likelihood of HIV

infection and developing AIDS: age, gender, and socioeconomic background. The Centers for Disease Control

(2003) in the US describe common routes of transmission of HIV for men and women. Looking at their data

one can see how modes of transmission vary for men and for women.

Modes of Transmission for men

Cases %

Homosexual Contact

57.3

Injecting drug use

21.2

Homosexual Contact & Injecting drug use

7.6

Heterosexual contact

4.3

Transfusion

0.8

Undetermined

8.0

The most prominent difference here is that only 4.3 % of men contract HIV/AIDS from women, whereas 39.4

women get infected by men. Male to female transmission is 8 times more likely than female to male

transmission (Padian, Shiboski, Glass, and Vittinghoff, 1997). In the late 1990s it was observed that the number

of HIV+ or AIDS infected women was on the increase. The rate is even higher in minority women in the U.S.

According to the late 1990s figures, out of the adult and adolescent AIDS cases reported to Centers for Disease

Control in the U.S, 20 % were women (Holmberg, 1996). Black and Hispanic women constituted 73 % of all

AIDS cases in women, whereas in the entire population they comprise only 19 % (Holmberg, 1996).

Who is at a Higher Risk??

As compared to women, men are at a higher risk. In case of Pakistan too, most reported cases are males. The

main reason for their high risk, as in case of HIV/AIDS in general, is indulgence into risky behaviors. In case

of young adults, most of the infected persons are men (CDC, 1998). The rate is generally lower in people above

50 years of age, and they are less likely to be infected than young adults. But if the 50+ people get infected, they

tend to develop AIDS more rapidly and to get more opportunistic infections (CDC, 1998).

The Case of HIV/AIDS, Some facts

There are 38 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. 5 million people are newly infected every years;

of these 800,000 are children (UNAIDS, 2004). The rate of HIV infection is the highest in the 20-45 years olds

than any other age group. The HIV infection rate is three times higher in men than in women. Even sine the

beginning of the epidemic, males constituted more than 80 % of all AIDS Cases (CDC, 2004).

What needs to be done???

Health education and awareness campaigns about the nature, risk factors, causes and symptoms of HIV/AIDS

(e.g. use of syringes, blood transfusion).

· Education for avoiding risky and harmful behaviors

· Encouraging people to adopt careful lifestyles and safer sexual practices

· Educating infected women about the significance of avoiding pregnancy

· Providing easily accessible screening facilities

· Health education programs for young adults

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