HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) is basically a slowly replicating retrovirus known as” lentivirus” that attacks the human body and cause AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) (Blattner et al., 1988). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a condition in humans in which slow failure of progressive immune system permits cancer and life-threatening opportunistic infections to flourish. This Infection occurs by the transfer of semen, blood, vaginal fluid, breast milk or pre-ejaculate. HIV is present within these bodily fluids, as both free virus particles as well as virus within infected immune cells.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus affects the major cells of human immune system like macrophages, helper T cells (particularly CD4+ T cells) and dendritic cells. HIV infection lower the levels of CD4+ T cells by a number of different mechanisms including: direct viral killing of infected cells, apoptosis of uninfected by stander cells, and killing of infected CD4+ T cells with the help of CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes that identify infected cells (Blattner et al., 1988). When the number of CD4+ T decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunity becomes suppressed, and the body gradually becomes more vulnerable to opportunistic infections.

Strategies to Reduce the Risks

The main strategy underlying risk reduction awareness is education through provision of factual information about HIV/AIDS. Certainly, targeting at interventions to address reducing risky behaviors, motivation and skill building, HIV knowledge and screening for HIV, and recruitment into treatment in patient settings is called for. Therefore, employing HIV risk reduction interventions among the patients would address the broader psychosocial context in which HIV risk behaviors occur so as to reduce HIV transmission. As healthcare providers are under pressure to function with less money, less time, and more challenges (DOH, 2010). Sexual health-HIV prevention programmers and their workforce must stretch their declining resources by integrating the care they give with that of other ...