Case study of a global disease
AIDS- location
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a disease which damages cells in the immune system. which, over time, wears down the The body's defence system against entry of any foreign body, including pathogens and agents such as pollen grains. The role of the immune system is to prevent disease.. This lack of The body's natural ability to fight off disease. makes an infected person extremely susceptible to picking up viruses which, in most cases, eventually leads to death.
Every country in the world has, or has had, someone living with AIDS. However, the distribution of cases around the world is very uneven, with over 70 per cent in A continent containing many countries.. Even then the vast majority of the cases found in Africa are located south of the The line around the centre of the Earth, parallel to the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. with most of these in A country located in southern Africa. itself.
Question
Look at the map above.
Describe, in detail, the global distribution of AIDS.
- The distribution of AIDS is very uneven throughout the world. The highest percentage of people with the disease is located in African countries.
- There are between 0.1-0.5 per cent of people in the UK living with AIDS.
- Some countries eg China have less than 0.1 per cent of its population with the disease.
- Other countries eg South Africa have between 15-34 per cent of its population with AIDS.
- Russia has 1-5 per cent of its population with the disease.
- The USA has between 0.5-1.0 per cent of people with AIDS.
HIV/AIDS is usually passed on through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. The main ways people contract HIV/AIDS are:
- Drug users sharing drug injection equipment, such as needles and syringes.
- Having When people have intercourse without using a condom. with an infected person.
- Babies drinking the breast milk of an infected woman.
- Infected When people are given blood via a drip..
- Infection can be passed on from mother to An unborn baby. Usually eight weeks from conception. during pregnancy.
- Lack of Health provision that aims to stave off disease before it strikes., advice or medication.
- Lack of education on how the disease is transmitted.
Effects of AIDS
In a developed country AIDS is often found within specific groups such as People who inject drugs into their veins using a needle and syringe.. News of someone contracting the virus can have a detrimental emotional impact on relatives and families, as well as on the individual.
There is a great cost involved in treating the disease, eg with Medicine that is given to people who have AIDS., and in Investigations into the causes, effects and potential new ways to treat diseases. costs.
In a developing country the cost of medicine to control the disease means that most people go without treatment. AIDS is a When the body is weakened. disease which means that eventually those infected will not be able to work, lowering the The amount of work produced by a person in a given time. and potential When a person or country has a certain amount of money and material possessions. of a country.
Development may be hindered which leads to fewer jobs and less wealth in a country. The The number of people who die per thousand per year. will increase and The average number of years a person is expected to live depending on where they live. decreases.
In countries like South Africa or A country located in eastern Africa. where AIDS is endemic, children may be left without parents and brought up by their grandparents. Entire middle-aged populations may be missing from societies. There may also be a loss of Money made from visitors. if it becomes known that there are specific problems with disease in the area.