HIV/AIDS/STIs

Currently an estimated 33 million people worldwide are infected with HIV (the virus that leads to AIDS), 95% of whom live in developing countries. In 2007, approximately 2.5 million people were newly infected with the virus. AIDS is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa and the fourth-leading cause of death worldwide.

It is estimated that as a direct result of AIDS, per capita growth in half of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa is falling by 0.5%-1.2% each year. Health care systems in many countries are overwhelmed by a growing number of HIV/AIDS patients. Studies forecast that health care costs in hardest hit countries may increase tenfold over the next several years as a result of the epidemic. HIV/AIDS overburdens social systems and hinders educational development. The epidemic also inhibits agricultural production in many areas by reducing investments in irrigation, soil enhancement and other capital improvements.

There is currently no vaccine or cure. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are expensive and access is limited in low-income countries. Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS epidemic. HIV prevention is effective, especially when backed by high level political leadership, a national AIDS programme, adequate funding, and strong community involvement. Prevention efforts include clear and accurate information about HIV/AIDS, behaviour change communication (in particular to reduce concurrent partnerships and condom promotion), HIV counselling and testing, male circumcision, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Progress is being made. For example, the percentage of pregnant women living with HIV who received antiretroviral treatment to prevent mother to child transmission increased from 9 percent in 2004 to 33 percent in 2007. The number of new HIV infections among children under the age of 15 declined from 460,000 in 2001 to an estimated 420,000 in 2007. However, in general, preventive interventions are currently reaching only a minority of those at risk.

Prevention of STIs is through health promotion, condom promotion and early effective treatment. Syndromic management of STIs in primary care reduces transmission of STIs and HIV.

See the World Health Organization website for further information.

Related COMDIS Projects

Project Name	Country/Partner
Sexually transmitted disease case management guidelines in Pakistan	Pakistan - ASD
Linking TB and HIV/AIDS services in Asia	Nepal - HERD
TB HIV collaborative intervention effectiveness in GS Hospital Swaziland	Swaziland - Good Shepherd Hospital
TB HIV interventions - phase 2, in health centres in Swaziland	Swaziland - Good Shepherd Hospital
TB HIV integration in hospitals (GSH) Swaziland	Swaziland - Good Shepherd Hospital
A prospective evaluation of a community based antiretroviral treatment programme in a rural African setting	Swaziland - Good Shepherd Hospital
Adherence to anti-retroviral treatment (ART) in Uganda	Uganda - Makerere University