10 myths about hiv/aids
By Dale Hanson Bourke
Beginning to understand the challenges of HIV/AIDS starts by
dealing with some of the common myths people tend to believe
about the disease. Following are some of them and the actual facts about
the situation.
HIV/AIDS is mostly a disease of homosexual men.
Primarily spread by heterosexual sex, HIV/AIDS now infects as many women as men worldwide. Although the disease was first recognized in the US among gay men, it is now significantly spread among IV drug users. Internationally, it is more often a disease of heterosexuals.
HIV/AIDS is mostly an African problem.
Found in every country in the world, HIV infections are growing most rapidly in countries outside of Africa, including India and Russia. Many African countries have been decimated by HIV/AIDS, but the impact is also felt in Asia, Eastern Europe and such countries as Haiti. As of 2005, India has the highest number of persons living with HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS spreads mostly because of poor moral choices.
Women are often infected by their husbands and children most often contract HIV by being born to HIV+ mothers. It isn’t helpful or meaningful to determine who is at fault or who is an innocent victim.
Plenty of money is being spent on fighting HIV/AIDS.
While a great deal of money is being spent by governments, private organizations and individuals to fight HIV/AIDS, much more is needed.
HIV/AIDS is no longer a problem in the US.
Because ARVs are widely available in the US, the death rate has decreased. But the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the US has not decreased and the rate of new infections is not going down. According to estimates, as many as one quarter of all those living with HIV in the US do not know they are infected.
ARVs are widely available.
While antiretrovirals are becoming more available, they are still difficult to find in many rural areas and in some countries. Both drugs and health care workers to administer them are needed in many poor countries.
A cure exists for HIV/AIDS.
While there are treatments to prolong life, there is no cure. Many scientists are working on a cure but few believe there will ever be one way to effectively cure someone once and for all because the virus constantly changes.
There is no hope for those with HIV/AIDS.
Great progress is being made in treatments and the rate of infant infection is dropping rapidly. There is also a dropping rate of new infections in many countries with strong prevention programs.
If I’m not HIV+, the disease doesn’t affect me.
The high rate of HIV/AIDS infections is causing instability in many countries and reversing the progress made in development. It is also causing a worldwide tuberculosis pandemic. Everyone is affected by the pandemic. Some public health officials believe such diseases as bird flu can most easily make a leap from animals to humans among populations where the immune systems are compromised.
There’s nothing I can do.
Everyone can do something. First, become educated. Then help teach others in your church, school or community. Help support an organization working to stop the spread of HIV or help support groups that care for AIDS orphans. Pray.
Dale Hanson Bourke is the author of “The Skeptic’s Guide to the Global AIDS Crisis” (Authentic, 2006).
