statistics

analysis

The HIV/AIDS epidemic represents a growing health hazard for human populations worldwide. Globally, more than 60 million people have been afflicted with the disease and 25 million have already died. The number of individuals living with HIV continues to rise, approaching more than 39 million in 2007. However, rates of increase are not geographically uniform and certain regions are more severely affected by the epidemic than others. A comparative analysis conducted among South Africa, Japan, and the U.S. state of New York yields interesting results.

South Africa, with 12.5% of the total population living with HIV/AIDS, exhibits the highest number of afflicted individuals while only 0.0133% of Japan’s total population suffers from the disease. Women are disproportionately affected in South Africa while gay men are among the most at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS in Japan. Those living with HIV/AIDS in New York comprise 0.881% of the state’s total population and men are more likely to be infected than women. Among all three case studies, HIV/AIDS is most prevalent among adults age 15+, but there is growing concern about rising numbers of HIV cases among children, especially in South Africa.

Although rates of infection vary considerably, methods of contraction are relatively similar in all areas. Sexual contact surfaces as one of the principal means of transmitting the HIV virus. Individuals who are unaware that they are infected exacerbate the spread of HIV/AIDS in all regions. Treatment and prevention has centered upon the provision of antiretroviral therapy, particularly in South Africa. Governmental involvement to help educate the public and provide necessary resources occurs in all three case study locations. While significant improvements have been made in public policy efforts, South Africa has not experienced as much success as Japan or New York primarily due to the shear numbers of infected individuals in this country. Mitigating the risk associated with HIV/AIDS and preventing further dispersion of it is a challenge that transcends boundaries and requires international cooperation.

references :_

http://www.who.int/hiv/data/en/

http://courses.path.utah.edu/classes/webpath/labs/aidslab/aidslab.htm