According to World Health Organization stats, Globally, 38.4 million [33.9–43.8 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2021. An estimated 0.7% [0.6-0.8%] of adults aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with HIV, although the burden of the epidemic continues to vary considerably between countries and regions.
Women represent a little over half of all adults living with HIV worldwide.
The burden of the epidemic varies considerably between regions of the world and within countries. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for approximately 70% of people living with HIV globally and remains the most severely affected region with an adult HIV prevalence of 4.4%.
Find the Adult HIV prevalence By WHO region:
Source: http://www.who.int/gho/hiv/hiv_013.jpg?ua=1
As per the Fact Sheet by UNAIDS in Year 2022, find the Global HIV statistics 2021-2022:
- 650 000 [510 000–860 000] people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2021.
- 38.4 million [33.9 million–43.8 million] people globally were living with HIV in 2021.
- 1.5 million [1.1 million–2.0 million] people became newly infected with HIV in 2021.
New HIV infections
- Women and girls accounted for 49% of all new infections in 2021.
- Since 2010, new HIV infections among children have declined by 52%, from 320 000 [220 000–480 000] in 2010 to 160 000 [110 000–230 000] in 2021.
Key populations
- In 2021, key populations (sex workers and their clients, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people) and their sexual partners accounted for 70% of HIV infections globally:
- 94% of new HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
- 51% of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa.
The risk of acquiring HIV is:
- 35 times higher among people who inject drugs than adults who do not inject drugs.
- 30 times higher for female sex workers than adult women.
- 28 times higher among gay men and other men who have sex with men than adult men.
- 14 times higher for transgender women than adult women.
Overview of What is HIV/AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body’s ability to fight infection and disease.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can also be spread by contact with infected blood and from illicit injection drug use or sharing needles. It can also be spread from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Without medication, it may take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.
There’s no cure for HIV/AIDS, but medications can control the infection and prevent the progression of the disease. Antiviral treatments for HIV have reduced AIDS deaths around the world, and international organizations are working to increase the availability of prevention measures and treatment in resource-poor countries.
Prevention and Treatments of HIV/AIDS
Treatment should begin as soon as possible after a diagnosis of HIV, regardless of viral load.
The main treatment for HIV is antiretroviral therapy, a combination of daily medications that stop the virus from reproducing. This helps protect CD4 cells, keeping the immune system strong enough to take measures against the disease.
Antiretroviral therapy helps keep HIV from progressing to AIDS. It also helps reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.
When treatment is effective, the viral load will be “undetectable.” The person still has HIV, but the virus is not visible in test results.
However, the virus is still in the body. And if that person stops taking antiretroviral therapy, the viral load will increase again, and the HIV can again start attacking CD4 cells.
When to see a doctor
If you think you may have been infected with HIV or are at risk of contracting the virus, see a health care provider as soon as possible.
Important Question to ask
When meeting with a healthcare provider for the time, you should take the opportunity to ask all the questions that need to be asked. Among them:
- How large is your HIV practice?
- Does HIV represent the focus of the work you do?
- What services does your clinic offer?
- How do you like working with patients? Do you welcome input and discussion?
- How far in advance do I need to make an appointment?
- Will I see you every visit, even routine follow-ups? Or just an assistant?
- How do I get my routine blood results? Do I call or do you call me?
- What is your experience working with patients of my identity or cultural background?
- What are the 5 stages of HIV?
- If I need to call you for a genuine medical emergency, what are the procedures?
- Do you accept Medicaid or Medicare?
Publisher’s Disclaimer: The data gathered is through online sources and refences are provided. For any data-related query connect us.
Reference:
- https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/hiv-aids
- https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_FactSheet_en.pdf
- https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids#treatment
