AIDS - Worldwide disease

Question 1

Causes of AIDS

Answer 1

• Unprotected sex with an infected person
• Civil war
• Sharing a needle with an infected person
• Infected blood transfusion
• Drinking breast milk form infected mother
• From infected mother to child during pregnancy or delivery.

Question 2

Social Consequences of AIDS

Answer 2

• Huge numbers of children left orphaned
• Collapse of the family care
• Grandparents and other children left to look after younger siblings
• A decline in school enrolment
• Rural communities losing out on education because teacher dies
• Some religious groups ostracize sufferers.

Question 3

Economic consequences of AIDS

Answer 3

• Lots of vacant jobs
• agricultural production is severely affected
• Death
• Fewer taxpayers, stops countries developing
• Decrease in crop yields,
• increase in famine
• Expensive treatment. Three times the amount Africa has.

Question 4

Preventative AIDS measures

Answer 4

• Encouraging the use of condoms during sexual intercourse.
• HIV testing
• Sex Education
• Needle Exchange programs
• Blood screening during transfusions.

Question 5

Effectiveness of measures

Answer 5

• Condoms – Has helped reduce HIV transmission by 80%. However religions bans the use of condoms and they are expensive.
• HIV testing – Facilities are poor and many people avoid it because of the stigma attached.
• Needle Exchange – Mauritius and Kenya have adopted this program.
• Improved Sex education – Most cost effective.
• Children who stay on are at a much lower risk.
• Catholic teaching encourages people to be celibate.