HIV/AIDS

As of 2019, there were approximately 38 million people in the world with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV is a virus that destroys CD4 T-cells, an important part of the human immune system, and as a result weakens a person’s immune system. Once the CD4 T-cell count falls below 200, a person is diagnosed with AIDS, which means that their immune system is quite weak and susceptible to other infections and cancers. HIV can only be transmitted by infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, and breastmilk.

Despite the large numbers of people globally who have this disease, about 19% of people worldwide do not know they have it, which is in part due to the stigmas surrounding HIV and unequal access to testing and treatment. HIV disproportionately affects racial and ethnic communities, and gay and bisexual men, which makes it harder for these communities to access the care they need. A recent study found that stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS in someone's community can have a significant negative effect on that person’s mental state, thus making it harder for that person to seek out treatment and support.


In order to break down the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, we will address the misconceptions and myths people believe about this disease:


  1. An HIV Diagnosis is a death sentence/HIV always leads to AIDS


Today, people with HIV are expected to live a normal life span. The medications and drugs currently used to manage HIV, such as antiretroviral therapy (ART), enable a person to live a much longer and more normal life than in the past. As long as a person takes their prescribed medications, they will live a normal lifespan, although it might be a harder life. In addition, if a person starts their drug treatment shortly after contracting HIV and takes it correctly, it is possible to keep AIDS from developing. By taking the medication exactly as prescribed, it will reduce the amount of HIV in a person’s blood to a very low level (called an undetectable viral load). This prevents the virus from growing in a person’s body, developing into AIDS, and contracting illnesses. Therefore, current HIV medications reduce the HIV viral load in a person’s body and manage their symptoms, typically enabling that person to live a long, normal life.


  1. I can get HIV just by hanging out with an HIV-positive person


This myth is simply false. HIV cannot be spread through casual contact. A person cannot develop HIV from breathing the same air, kissing, and touching a door handle. HIV cannot be transmitted through touch, saliva, sweat, and urine. Therefore, casual contact with an HIV-positive person will not cause someone to contract HIV.


HIV can only be contracted from infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, and breastmilk. The most common ways to spread HIV is by having vaginal or anal intercourse, sharing drug equipment and/or needles, and transmitting from a mother to her child through pregnancy or breastfeeding.


However, it is important to note that the risk of transmitting HIV can be greatly reduced. If a person takes their medication exactly as prescribed and maintains an undetectable viral load, they will have almost no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to a person who is HIV-negative. Using a condom during sexual intercourse will also help reduce this risk. In addition, a mother who takes her medication exactly as prescribed and maintains an undetectable viral load will have a reduced risk of transmitting HIV through pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Last, the risk of transmitting HIV through contaminated needles is reduced if the HIV-positive person takes their medication exactly as prescribed and maintains an undetectable viral load.


In addition, HIV-positive people can still be functional members of society, They can still hold a job, raise a family, participate in extracurricular activities, and do everything that a non-HIV positive person can do.

  1. Only gay people can get HIV


Although HIV is more prevalent in men who have male sexual partners, anyone can develop HIV regardless of their sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender, and age. Therefore, someone who is heterosexual can still contract HIV.


In 2018, there were 37,968 new HIV diagnoses in the United States. 69% of those diagnoses were among gay and bisexual men who had sex with other men. However, 24% of the diagnoses were among heterosexual people. Although the diagnoses were more prevalent among men with male sexual partners, heterosexuals still made up a significant portion of the diagnoses, thus proving that anyone can develop HIV regardless of their sexual orientation.


While the HIV-AIDS epidemic is still a serious issue, the number of virus cases has decreased every year due to global efforts to prevent new cases and to provide HIV-positive people with HIV treatments. Between 2010-2019, there was a 23% decrease in new HIV infections. In addition, more people worldwide have gained access to HIV education, testing, and treatment. However, there are still large populations of people worldwide that have little to no access to HIV education, testing, and treatment due to stigma, socioeconmoic inequalities, and discrimination. Therefore, it is important that we try to dismantle these barriers so as to ensure everyone has access to the care and treatment they need.