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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), due to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been a significant medical issue globally for over 40 years, harming 40 million people. The World Health Organization (WHO), revealed that, there are around 39.9 million individuals suffering from HIV in 2023, with Africa accounting for 65% of the total. In 2023, roughly 630,000 people perished from HIV-related reasons, while an additional 1.3 million individuals developed HIV (WHO, 2024). This assessment highlights the prevalence, impacted population, and utilized approaches to lessen the worldwide burden, supported by project proposal for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Global Public Health Issue and Epidemiological Data
According to data from credible sources, HIV/AIDS is an epidemic both globally and in SSA. According to UNAIDS statistics, 7.8 million individuals in South Africa were HIV-positive in 2020. With a national HIV infection rate of 18.8% among individuals with age between 15 and 49, South Africa has the highest frequency of HIV-positive people, almost 5.5 million. The significant prevalence highlights HIV/AIDS’s enduring burden, despite continuous worldwide initiatives to combat the illness. The disease also has a significant economic impact; the overall budget for South Africa’s HIV response is approximately R30 billion annually. The median annual HIV-related healthcare costs for an HIV patient is $420,285 (Bingham et al., 2021).
The scope of HIV/AIDS is widespread in SSA, impacting many aspects of medical care and socioeconomic growth. HIV/AIDS causes substantial morbidity and mortality. According to Statista data, the number of AIDS fatalities in South Africa is 85, 796 in 2022 ((Statista, 2022). HIV/AIDS affects a disproportionate number of persons in Mozambique about 2.2 million, India, 2.1 million, Uganda, 1.4 million, and Tanzania, 1.4 million people (Schousboe & Wejse, 2021).
NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 2 Global Issue Problem
Vulnerable groups in SSA regions include adults, particularly females aged 15-24 and males aged 20-29, as well as those living in rural and disadvantaged areas (Risher et al., 2021). These groups are more vulnerable due to restricted access to medical services, a lack of preventative awareness, and stigma, which can impede effective prevention and therapy efforts. Significant disparities in HIV/AIDS prevalence and outcomes occur between countries and regions. SSA, although bearing the immense HIV/AIDS burden, frequently has the fewest resources to combat the illness successfully.
These countries confront significant problems in HIV/AIDS control and eradication due to reasons like political instability, inadequate medical facilities, poorly structured programs, absence of appropriate medical governance standards, and low financial assets for vaccination and medication (Malakoane et al., 2020). Research focuses on financial and political investments by the region’s administration and legislators to mitigate the HIV/AIDS burden and save lives. Ongoing efforts are required to combat the effect of HIV/AIDs on the population’s well-being.
HIV/AIDS, as a global medical issue, has diverse repercussions on individuals, populations, and communities worldwide, especially in SSA regions.
Impact on Individuals
HIV/AIDS has a significant impact on individuals, especially in high-burden regions like SSA. People who have HIV/AIDS are more susceptible to other diseases and infections, which increases mortality. People with HIV/AIDS have several kinds of mental and physical signs. These signs include exhaustion, weight loss, a high temperature, sleeping sweats, and chronic diarrhea and opportunistic infections (Berhan et al., 2022). HIV/AIDS can also have significant effects on mental health because people frequently face prejudice and stigma as a result of their sickness.
People with HIV/AIDS are more likely to have anxiety, mood swings, and cognitive issues, which reduces their productivity. Depressive disorders are the most common psychological issues among HIV patients (Winston & Spudich, 2020). Poor physical outcomes, the economic strain of care, and missed productivity due to disease all have a substantial impact on an individual’s standard of living.
Impact on Communities
The elevated incidence of HIV puts pressure on local medical facilities, resulting in substandard
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