HIV/AIDS cases down but not eliminated – Bonner County Daily Bee

Report on HIV/AIDS in the United States: Emphasizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

Despite significant progress since the mid-1990s, HIV and AIDS continue to pose a persistent public health challenge in the United States. This report highlights the current state of HIV/AIDS, its transmission, demographics, symptoms, treatment, and prevention, with a focus on aligning efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Current Statistics and Impact

1. In 2022, nearly 33,000 new HIV infections were reported in the U.S., resulting in over 19,300 deaths.
2. Approximately 13% of people living with HIV in the U.S. are unaware of their infection status, complicating efforts to control the epidemic.

These figures underscore the urgent need for enhanced testing, treatment, and prevention strategies to achieve SDG 3 targets related to ending epidemics of communicable diseases.

Understanding HIV and AIDS

• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): A virus that attacks the immune system by destroying white blood cells essential for fighting infections.
• AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome): The advanced stage of HIV infection characterized by severe immune system damage.

Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Modes of Transmission

• Unprotected vaginal or anal sex with an HIV-positive individual.
• Sharing needles or syringes for drug use.
• Contact with infected blood.
• Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

HIV is not transmitted through saliva, sweat, tears, urine, or feces unless contaminated with blood.

Demographic Distribution of New HIV Infections

1. Males who have sex with males accounted for 67% of new cases.
2. Heterosexual contact accounted for 22% of new infections.
3. People who inject drugs accounted for 7% of new infections.
4. The age group 25 to 34 years had the highest number of new infections (12,800 cases).
5. Individuals aged 13 to 24 accounted for 20% of new infections, with a 30% decrease in this group since 2018.

Symptoms and Disease Progression

• Early HIV symptoms resemble flu-like illness: fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth ulcers.
• Symptoms may appear and disappear within two to four weeks.
• Without treatment, HIV becomes chronic and may progress to AIDS, severely weakening the immune system.

Testing and Diagnosis

• HIV infection can only be confirmed through testing, typically via a simple blood test ordered by a healthcare provider.
• Home testing kits and free testing sites, accessible via the CDC Testing Locator, improve accessibility.

Increasing testing coverage aligns with SDG 3’s goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

Treatment and Management

• There is currently no cure for HIV; however, antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively manages the virus.
• ART reduces viral load, improves quality of life, and lowers the risk of transmission.
• Early initiation and adherence to ART are critical for long-term health.

Prevention Strategies

1. Adopt safer sexual practices: limit the number of sexual partners and consistently use latex or polyurethane condoms.
2. Regular testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as STIs increase HIV risk.
3. Avoid sharing needles and injection equipment.
4. Consult healthcare providers about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as preventive measures.

These prevention measures contribute directly to SDG 3 by reducing new infections and promoting health education.

Conclusion

The fight against HIV/AIDS in the United States remains a critical public health priority. Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3, requires continued efforts in education, testing, treatment, and prevention. Collaborative actions can help reduce new infections, improve the quality of life for those living with HIV, and ultimately end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Report compiled by Kathy Hubbard, member of Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. Contact: kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article focuses on HIV/AIDS, a major public health issue, highlighting prevention, treatment, and awareness efforts.
   • It discusses reducing new infections, improving treatment access, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Although not explicitly mentioned, the article touches on sexual health and behaviors, which relate to gender-sensitive approaches to HIV prevention and treatment.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article highlights disparities in HIV infection rates among different groups (e.g., males who have sex with males, people who inject drugs), implying the need to address inequalities in health access and outcomes.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 3 Targets
   • Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
   • Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information, and education.
2. SDG 5 Targets
   • Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.
3. SDG 10 Targets
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. New HIV Infection Rates
   • The article provides data on the number of new HIV infections (e.g., 33,000 new cases in 2022), which corresponds to indicators measuring incidence rates of HIV.
2. HIV-related Mortality
   • Deaths due to HIV/AIDS (over 19,300 in 2022) are mentioned, which relate to mortality indicators.
3. Awareness and Testing Rates
   • The article states that approximately 13% of people with HIV in the U.S. don’t know their status, implying the importance of indicators measuring the proportion of people who know their HIV status.
4. Access to Treatment
   • Discussion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) usage and its effectiveness implies indicators measuring the proportion of people living with HIV who receive ART.
5. Risk Behavior Reduction
   • Prevention measures such as condom use, reduction in risky sexual behavior, and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are implied indicators for behavioral change and prevention effectiveness.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: bonnercountydailybee.com