Countries with Lowest HIV/AIDS Infection Rates When the first incidences of what is now known as the AIDS virus was reported back in the early 1980’s, not much was known about the illness. With even health care professionals baffled at the sudden appearance of this mystery disease, naturally, hysteria ensued. As such, many misconceptions surrounding the nature and origins of the virus spread. By the mid-80’s, the disease had been identified as AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and HIV or human immunodeficiency virus had been discovered to cause it.
After over thirty years of research, medical advances have been made in the early detection of HIV as well as its prevention. Because of these advances as well as consistent efforts to educate the general population some regions have been able to successfully contain the disease, or keep the infection rate at relatively low levels. It is now accepted as fact that HIV causes AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a medical condition defined by the immune system’s inability to fight off infections.
What HIV does is attack the immune system cells, over time leaving the body susceptible to infection. AIDS is diagnosed when a person has developed an AIDS related condition, an opportunistic infection, AIDS related cancer, or when the number of immune system cells (CD4 cells) drops below a certain level. Since its discovery in 1981, over thirty million people have died from AIDS, and an estimated thirty four million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS today. As of yet, there is still no cure and the most successful treatment for HIV and AIDS is through antiretroviral therapy.
The use of preventative measures, antiretroviral therapy, and other factors have been the cause for lower infection rates in the populations of certain regions as opposed to the harder hit regions in the rest of the world. That is not to say that these regions are not at risk, but that socio-economic factors have kept the potential for a larger and more devastating epidemic at bay. The countries of Svalbard, Syria, Cuba, Afghanistan and Finland stand out in having and maintaining low HIV/ AIDS prevalence in comparison to other countries.
The Scandinavian country of Svalbard is remarkable in that according to the CIA World Factbook, there have been no reported incidences of HIV infection since the discovery of the disease in the early 1980’s. This is most likely attributed to the country’s small population, which hovers at around 2,600 residents. What could also be a contributing factor is that as a country whose main industries revolve around mining, scientific research and tourism only a small fraction of the population are actually permanent residents.
“Of those living in the Norwegian settlements, 9 have been living at Svalbard since the 1960s, 36 since the 1970s and 75 since the 1980s. Meanwhile, 823 arrived in 2010 or later” (Statistics Norway). It is also important to note that much of those that reside in Svalbard do so on a temporary basis, and that within a given year nearly as many people are moving away as there is moving to the country (Statistics Norway). The Middle East in general is known for low HIV prevalence rates across the board. Syria in particular stands out as having especially low rates even in comparsion to other countries within the region.
With an adult prevalence rate of . 1 percent, Syria’s epidemic has not become as much of a pressing matter of public health. In the early years following the first cases of HIV, government programs had been put in place to help contain and prevent the further spread of the virus by providing information as well as patient care and treatment(Humanitarian News and Analysis). And in regards to the region as a whole it has been suggested that there is a correlation between Islam and HIV prevalence. There are certain factors within Islamic culture that help prevent or at least slow the spread of HIV.
Traditional practices such as high male circumcision rates reduce the rate of infection. The prohibition of alcohol is another social custom that helps keep HIV rates down. The absence of this factor reduces the incidence of risky behaviors caused by alcohol consumption (Obermeyer). And subsequently, fewer people engaging in high risk activities cuts down on possible opportunities for infection. Another facet of Islamic culture that inhibits the spread of disease is the taboo against extramarital sex.
This is an especially important aspect as maintaining a monogamous relationship or abstinence eliminates the possibility of infection in this area. Despite the geographical distances, Afghanistan shares similar attributes to the Middle East in its strong Islamic influences within its culture and its low HIV prevalence. With an adult prevalence of . 01 percent, Afghanistan has among the lowest rates in the world. As an extremely religious and conservative country, there is a devout adherence to Islamic culture, including the aspects the help contain the spread. Here, extramarital sex is against the law and a punishable offense.
However, in recent years Afghanistan has experienced an increase in HIV infection rates within certain risk groups, primarily intravenous drug users or IDUs. “Today, Afghanistan has almost one million drug users, or roughly eight per cent of the adult population, and that number is increasing. Over the last four years opium use has grown by 53 per cent and heroin use by 140 per cent, according to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report. To make matters worse, injected drug use is up by 21 per cent and 87 per cent of injecting users report having shared needles” (Gall).
Within the past few years the number of IDUs testing positive for HIV has risen from three to seven percent. Lack of information and proper healthcare facilities has done nothing to help prevent HIV from becoming a threat to the general population. The island nation of Cuba is most notable for having the lowest incidence of HIV infection in the Caribbean. What sets Cuba apart from the rest of the region was its initial actions in the wake of the discovery of HIV and AIDS. In 1983, the National Commission on AIDS was established to spread awareness and education.
Cuba also has a universal healthcare system that ensures all HIV and AIDS patients have access to medical care and drugs. The availability of the necessary antiretroviral drugs is due to the fact that Cuba produces it on its own (BBC). The government has taken extensive but effective measures in preventing the spread of HIV, including mother to child transmissions. “While mother-child transmission is a huge problem in African countries, for example, in Cuba, the government ensures that all HIV-positive mothers are treated with prophylactic AZT therapy up to delivery and then the babies are delivered by caesarean section”(BBC).
In the years following the onset of the HIV epidemic, it became standard practice to quarantine patients for a period of time in which they were treated with antiretroviral therapy and provided with important information (Anderson). The Cuban government has also set up an extensive surveillance system that tracks all HIV positive persons as well as their partners. Some of these practices have become subject to scrutiny in the international community because of the restrictions that it places on freedoms in addition to the considerable interference to privacy.
The country of Finland parallels Cuba in several aspects. Like Cuba, after the discovery of HIV,it began a health education campaign and has been able to maintain a low infection rate of . 1 percent. “In a country of 5. 3 million, less than 3,000 are HIV positive” (Karsikas). In addition, its universal healthcare system ensures that medical care and drug therapy is accessible to everyone. Although the majority of new HIV infections is through heterosexual transmission, prevention efforts target specific at risk populations that include men who have sex with men (MSM), intravenous drug users (IDUs) and sex workers.
“Most cases in 2008 and 2009 were associated with sexual transmission; heterosexual transmission being the most frequent mode of transmission. However, regarding HIV among men, 86 infections were associated with men having sex with men and 70 with heterosexual activity in 2008-2009. Only 17 HIV cases associated with injecting drug users (IDUs) were reported in 2008-2009. Two mother-to-child transmissions were reported, but the infections occurred prior to arrival in Finland. Furthermore in 2008-2009, a proportion (44 %) of all new HIV cases were non Finnish citizens” (UNGASS Country Progress Report).
The government’s strategy for prevention efforts include lowering risks for infection, making available and promoting the use of transmission prevention methods including condoms, sterile injection equipment, and medications, as well as activism against HIV patient discrimination. Evidence has suggested that much of the population is misinformed about the nature and ways of transmission of HIV. Because of the low prevalence of HIV in Finland an attitude of complacence and indifference is common among the general population.
Despite the low HIV infection rates, these attitudes increase the chances of what is now a small epidemic becoming a much larger one. Therefore in strategy efforts targeted at the general population the focus is on promoting education and awareness. In the three decades that have passed since HIV and AIDS were discovered, much has been learned about the nature of the virus. Advances in medicine have made early detection possible as well as lowering the death rate for AIDS patients. Those who are diagnosed early enough, and with antiretroviral therapy are able to lead relatively normal and longer lives than in the past.
This is especially true in certain countries where the HIV prevalence is exceptionally low. In some regions socio economic factors have played a part in keeping HIV rates low, as seen in Syria and Afghanistan. Though the aim is to eventually reach zero new HIV infections or the eradication of the virus, it is unlikely that this will occur on a world wide scale within the near future, as it apparently has in Svalbard. However, countries such as Cuba and Finland demonstrate the importance of early government intervention as well as consistent involvement in the HIV/AIDS awareness efforts.
They also show that the containment of the virus is possible through the execution of preventative measures. Works Cited Anderson, Tim. “HIV/AIDS in Cuba: A rights-based analysis” Health and Human Rights: An International Journal[Online], 11 10 Sep 2009. 5 Jan. 2013. Bentley, Molly.
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“A New Sorrow for Afghanistan: AIDS Has Joined a Growing List. ” The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Mar. 2007. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. Karsikos, Kimmo. “How to Reach Zero? HIV/AIDS Treatment in a Low Prevalence Country. ” Reach Zero. Swiss Re Center for Global Dialogue, 22 May 2012. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. . Morison, Linda. “The Global Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS. ” British Medical Bulletin 58. 1 (2001): 7-18. Oxford Journals. Oxford University Press. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. Obermeyer, Carla M. “HIV in the Middle East. ” Home. BMJ Group, 19 Oct. 2006. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. . Peter, Tom A. “Afghanistan’s New Crisis: The Spread of HIV/Aids.
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