Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that
alters the human immune system, spread through the body fluids making people
much more vulnerable to infection and disease (Okugbe, 2012).
alters the human immune system, spread through the body fluids making people
much more vulnerable to infection and disease (Okugbe, 2012).
An acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS), is a specific group of infection and deadly disease resulting from
immune suppression caused by a microscopic germ known as human immune
deficiency virus (HIV), it renders the body susceptible to fatal attacks by
diseases against the body which the body could have normally resisted (WHO, 2007).
(AIDS), is a specific group of infection and deadly disease resulting from
immune suppression caused by a microscopic germ known as human immune
deficiency virus (HIV), it renders the body susceptible to fatal attacks by
diseases against the body which the body could have normally resisted (WHO, 2007).
AIDS is a late and severe stage of HIV infection as
HIV infection progresses, the CD4+ count continues to decrease and the
individual is infected with HIV. It affects and kills the CD4 – T cell (a
specific type of white blood cells). The CD4 cell in the blood reflects the
state of immune system. The effect of HIV is measured by the decline in the
number of CD4+ cells. The normal count in the normal adult is between 600 – 1,
200 cells (Ross and Wilson, 2011).
HIV infection progresses, the CD4+ count continues to decrease and the
individual is infected with HIV. It affects and kills the CD4 – T cell (a
specific type of white blood cells). The CD4 cell in the blood reflects the
state of immune system. The effect of HIV is measured by the decline in the
number of CD4+ cells. The normal count in the normal adult is between 600 – 1,
200 cells (Ross and Wilson, 2011).
There are two types of HIV, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1
can be broken down into several subgroups base on location and type 2 which
seems to be less easy to transmit. Both are contacted through the exchange of
body fluids, and both can cause clinically indistinguishable AIDS, the final
life threatening stage of HIV.
can be broken down into several subgroups base on location and type 2 which
seems to be less easy to transmit. Both are contacted through the exchange of
body fluids, and both can cause clinically indistinguishable AIDS, the final
life threatening stage of HIV.
According to a 2013 report issued by Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the number of HIV positive people in Africa
receiving anti-retroviral treatment in 2012 was over seven times the number
receiving treatment in 2005 “with nearly 1 million added in the last year
alone”. The number of AIDS related deaths in sub Saharan Africa in 2011 was 33
percent less than the number in 2005. The number of new HIV infections in 2011
was 25% less than the number in 2001. Nigeria has the second largest absolute
number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world at 2.9 million following
South Africa estimated at 5.5 million (WHO, 2007). Approximately 3.9% of adult
women ages 15 – 49 were the positive as of 2005, HIV prevalence is estimated to
be 75%, among Nigeria’s estimated one million sex workers. The Niger Delta
region has the second highest HIV prevalence in Nigeria at 5.3%, with the
highest prevalence (6.1%) in the North Central region and lowest prevalence is
the South-West region (2.6%). However, though not population based, two
clinical studies have reported higher HIV prevalence among pregnant women in
Niger Delta (Macilwain, 2007).
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the number of HIV positive people in Africa
receiving anti-retroviral treatment in 2012 was over seven times the number
receiving treatment in 2005 “with nearly 1 million added in the last year
alone”. The number of AIDS related deaths in sub Saharan Africa in 2011 was 33
percent less than the number in 2005. The number of new HIV infections in 2011
was 25% less than the number in 2001. Nigeria has the second largest absolute
number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world at 2.9 million following
South Africa estimated at 5.5 million (WHO, 2007). Approximately 3.9% of adult
women ages 15 – 49 were the positive as of 2005, HIV prevalence is estimated to
be 75%, among Nigeria’s estimated one million sex workers. The Niger Delta
region has the second highest HIV prevalence in Nigeria at 5.3%, with the
highest prevalence (6.1%) in the North Central region and lowest prevalence is
the South-West region (2.6%). However, though not population based, two
clinical studies have reported higher HIV prevalence among pregnant women in
Niger Delta (Macilwain, 2007).