Transcript HIV/AIDS - the Department of Psychology at Illinois State University

The
HIV/AIDS
Epidemic
© 2001 John B. Pryor
Illinois State University
HIV/AIDS
Trends
in the USA
History of the Epidemic
1981 121 deaths
1982 447 deaths
1983 1,476 deaths
The advent of a disease first called "gay
cancer," later named GRID (Gay Related
Immuno Deficiency) was reported.
Institut Pasteur dis covered HIV (Human
Im munodeficiency Virus), the virus that
leads to AIDS (Acquired Im muno
Deficiency Syndrome)
CDC documented trans miss ion of AIDS
from heteros exual sex
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
announced that GRID may be transmitted
through sexual contact or exposure to
contaminated blood.
Am erican Red Cross warned high-risk
donors not to donate blood.
Number of AIDS patients, AIDS deaths and
patients on antiretroviral therapy among men who
have sex with men (MSM), San Francisco, USA,
1980 to 1998
MSM taking antiretroviral drugs
8000
7000
AIDS deaths among MSM
6000
MSM with AIDS
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
Source: San Francisco Department of Public Health (California), USA,
1999
95
96
97
98
HIV/AIDS
Trends in
Illinois
Since 1981, 26,000 Illinoisans have
been diagnosed with acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Of that figure, more than 15,000, or 59
percent, have died. The number of
Illinois cases is the sixth highest total
in the U.S., trailing New York,
California, Florida, Texas and New
Jersey. An estimated 28,000 to 38,000
persons in Illinois are HIV infected..
Data for Men
AIDS Cases in Illinois - 1999
0%
1%
Total = 1273
10%
7%
5%
54%
23%
MSM
Heterosexual Contact
Unknown
Injection Drug Use
Blood Trans/Hemophil
MSM/IDU
Perinatal
Male
AIDS
Illinois
in 2001
in 2001
Illinois
Cases inin
AIDS Cases
Male
Total = 964
21%
MSM
IV Drug Use
0%
2%
49%
MSM/IDU
Heterosexual
Blood Trans/Hemo
7%
3%
Perinatal
18%
Unknown
For Women
AIDS Cases in Illinois - 1999
Total cases = 284
23%
36%
4%
2%
35%
Injection Drug Use (IDU)
Blood Trans/Hemophilia
Unknown
Heterosexual Contact
Perinatal
Female AIDS Cases in Illinois
in 2001
28%
36%
IV Drug Use
Heterosexual
Blood Trans/Hemo
0%
3%
Perinatal
33%
Total = 248
Unknown
"This morning my back is out again, I have
sciatica, I have a herpes shingle going right up
my back. I'm just now finishing all my drugs.
Yesterday I had to take injections to make my
bone marrow grow, and my life is no fun.
Sometimes I wish I were dead. If somebody was
H.I.V. negative and I could transport them into
my body for a few days and let them feel the
pain, I think they'd have a whole new
understanding about the risks they're taking.” JEFF GETTY ,a founder of Survive AIDS in San
Francisco
A Tale of
Two
Epidemics
The Epidemic of
Disease
&
The Epidemic of
Stigma
The Epidemic of AIDS Stigma


Transmitted by association: people have
averse reactions to any person, place, or
thing associated with AIDS
AIDS stigma is fueled by associations to
other forms of prejudice: anti-homosexual
attitudes, rejection of minorities, negative
feelings about sex......
Attitudes
toward
homosexuality
.31
N=78 Women
Beliefs
about HIV
transmission
-.50
Should Magic
continue to
play?
Attitudes
toward
homosexuality
.27
N=122 Men
Beliefs
about HIV
transmission
-.49
Should Magic
continue to
play?
Some Consequences of the
Epidemic of Stigma


Studies of young sexually active people
show that those with anti-gay prejudice are
less likely to take precautions when having
sex
Fear of being stigmatized is one of the
primary reasons people who are at risk
avoid being tested for HIV
Some Consequences of the
Epidemic of Stigma


The experience of AIDS stigma contributes
to burnout among doctors, nurses, & social
workers who work with PWAs
Among PWAs the experience of being
shunned is related to psychosocial
adjustment problems and possibly to the
further progression of the disease
Some Consequences of the
Epidemic of Stigma


In one national study, 32% of AIDS-related
legal cases involved discrimination
In another conducted by the ACLU, 30% of
AIDS-discrimination cases involved people
who were not infected
AIDS Stigma Affects
Families


While the CDC reports that HIV disease is
never transmitted through casual contact to
other family members, AIDS stigma is
almost always transmitted to the PWA’s
family
Studies show that the parents, siblings, and
children of PWAs are stigmatized