Students just like every
other individual get HIV through three main routes: sexual contact, exposure to infected body fluids or tissues and from
mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding (known as vertical transmission) (Baggaley, White & Boily, 2008).
other individual get HIV through three main routes: sexual contact, exposure to infected body fluids or tissues and from
mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding (known as vertical transmission) (Baggaley, White & Boily, 2008).
Sexual Contact
The most frequent mode of
transmission of HIV is through sexual contact with an infected person. The
majority of all transmissions worldwide occur through heterosexual contacts (i.e. sexual
contacts between people of the opposite sex) (Whilelm, 2008).
transmission of HIV is through sexual contact with an infected person. The
majority of all transmissions worldwide occur through heterosexual contacts (i.e. sexual
contacts between people of the opposite sex) (Whilelm, 2008).
With regard to unprotected heterosexual contacts,
estimates of the risk of HIV transmission per sexual act appear to be four to
ten times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries. In
low-income countries, the risk of female-to-male transmission is estimated as
0.38% per act, and of male-to-female transmission as 0.30% per act; the equivalent
estimates for high-income countries are 0.04% per act for female-to-male
transmission, and 0.08% per act for male-to-female transmission. The risk of
transmission from anal intercourse is especially high, estimated as 1.4–1.7%
per act in both heterosexual and homosexual contacts (Boily, Baggaley &
Wang, 2009).
estimates of the risk of HIV transmission per sexual act appear to be four to
ten times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries. In
low-income countries, the risk of female-to-male transmission is estimated as
0.38% per act, and of male-to-female transmission as 0.30% per act; the equivalent
estimates for high-income countries are 0.04% per act for female-to-male
transmission, and 0.08% per act for male-to-female transmission. The risk of
transmission from anal intercourse is especially high, estimated as 1.4–1.7%
per act in both heterosexual and homosexual contacts (Boily, Baggaley &
Wang, 2009).
Risk of transmission increases in the presence of many
sexually transmitted infections and genital ulcers. Genital ulcers appear to
increase the risk approximately fivefold. Other sexually transmitted
infections, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis, are associated with somewhat smaller increases in
risk of transmission (Richard, 2010).
sexually transmitted infections and genital ulcers. Genital ulcers appear to
increase the risk approximately fivefold. Other sexually transmitted
infections, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis, are associated with somewhat smaller increases in
risk of transmission (Richard, 2010).
Exposure to Body Fluids
The second most frequent
mode of HIV transmission is via blood and blood products. Blood-borne
transmission can be through needle-sharing during intravenous drug use, needle
stick injury, transfusion of contaminated blood or blood product, or medical
injections with unsterilised equipment. The risk from sharing a needle during drug injection is between 0.63 and 2.4%
per act, with an average of 0.8% (Draughon & Sheridan, 2012).
mode of HIV transmission is via blood and blood products. Blood-borne
transmission can be through needle-sharing during intravenous drug use, needle
stick injury, transfusion of contaminated blood or blood product, or medical
injections with unsterilised equipment. The risk from sharing a needle during drug injection is between 0.63 and 2.4%
per act, with an average of 0.8% (Draughon & Sheridan, 2012).
HIV is transmitted in about 93% of blood transfusions using
infected blood. In developed countries the risk of acquiring HIV from a blood
transfusion is extremely low (less than one in half a million) where improved
donor selection and HIV screening is performed while in low
income countries, only half of transfusions may be appropriately screened and
it is estimated that up to 15% of HIV infections in these areas come from
transfusion of infected blood and blood products, representing between 5% and
10% of global infections (Draughon & Sheridan, 2012).
infected blood. In developed countries the risk of acquiring HIV from a blood
transfusion is extremely low (less than one in half a million) where improved
donor selection and HIV screening is performed while in low
income countries, only half of transfusions may be appropriately screened and
it is estimated that up to 15% of HIV infections in these areas come from
transfusion of infected blood and blood products, representing between 5% and
10% of global infections (Draughon & Sheridan, 2012).
Unsafe medical injections play a significant role in HIV spread in sub-Saharan
Africa. In 2007, between 12 and
17% of infections in this region were attributed to medical syringe use. The
World Health Organization estimates the risk of transmission as a result of a
medical injection in Africa at 1.2%. Significant risks are also associated with
invasive procedures, assisted delivery, and dental care in this area of the
world. People giving or receiving tattoos, piercings, and scarification are theoretically at risk
of infection but no confirmed cases have been documented. It is not possible
for mosquitoes or other insects to
transmit HIV (Reid, 2009).
Africa. In 2007, between 12 and
17% of infections in this region were attributed to medical syringe use. The
World Health Organization estimates the risk of transmission as a result of a
medical injection in Africa at 1.2%. Significant risks are also associated with
invasive procedures, assisted delivery, and dental care in this area of the
world. People giving or receiving tattoos, piercings, and scarification are theoretically at risk
of infection but no confirmed cases have been documented. It is not possible
for mosquitoes or other insects to
transmit HIV (Reid, 2009).
Mother-to-Child Transmission
HIV can be transmitted from
mother to child during pregnancy, during delivery, or through breast milk. This
is the third most common way in which HIV is transmitted globally. In the
absence of treatment, the risk of transmission before or during birth is around
20% and in those who also breastfeed 35%. As of 2008, vertical transmission
accounted for about 90% of cases of HIV in children. With appropriate treatment
the risk of mother-to-child infection can be reduced to about 1% (Coutsoudis,
Kwaan & Thomson, 2010).
mother to child during pregnancy, during delivery, or through breast milk. This
is the third most common way in which HIV is transmitted globally. In the
absence of treatment, the risk of transmission before or during birth is around
20% and in those who also breastfeed 35%. As of 2008, vertical transmission
accounted for about 90% of cases of HIV in children. With appropriate treatment
the risk of mother-to-child infection can be reduced to about 1% (Coutsoudis,
Kwaan & Thomson, 2010).
Preventive treatment involves the mother taking
antiretrovirals during pregnancy and delivery, an elective caesarean section,
avoiding breastfeeding, and administering antiretroviral drugs to the newborn.
Antiretrovirals when taken by either the mother or the infant decrease the risk
of transmission in those who do breastfeed. Many of these measures are however
not available in the developing world. If blood contaminates food during pre-chewing it may pose a risk of
transmission (Coutsoudis et al.,
2010).
antiretrovirals during pregnancy and delivery, an elective caesarean section,
avoiding breastfeeding, and administering antiretroviral drugs to the newborn.
Antiretrovirals when taken by either the mother or the infant decrease the risk
of transmission in those who do breastfeed. Many of these measures are however
not available in the developing world. If blood contaminates food during pre-chewing it may pose a risk of
transmission (Coutsoudis et al.,
2010).
References
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