HIV is Manageable;

so why is it still an issue?

Introduction

There are several strategies in place to tackle HIV;

These result in; Increased awareness of HIV and its risk factors Almost normal life expectancy and increased QoL

Number of people living with HIV; - 1990 8 million - 2007 40 million

Introduction
So why is HIV still an issue despite all the efforts taken to tackle it? In this presentation we will highlight three specific groups for whom HIV is still difficult to tackle

The groups we have focused on are; - The elderly - The socially excluded within developed countries - People living in developing countries, specifically sub-Saharan Africa

The Elderly
The Current Situation:

Make up 11-15% AIDS cases & >10% new HIV infections

Predicted to increase Aging population Improved treatment more HIV patients living to old age At risk of infection - 65% still sexually active - 20% of infections due to needles (e.g. IV drug abuse)

The Elderly
Barriers:

Higher rate of unprotected sex - Condoms no longer needed for contraception - Unaware of risks
Stigma against HIV & sex denial of symptoms Elderly are not valued biased distribution of HIV resources Lack of records & research poor understanding of problem HIV/AIDS symptoms confused with aging late diagnosis Stereotyping as not at risk' no education or screening

The Elderly
The Way Forward:
Education for elderly reduce risk behaviour

Train doctors to distinguish symptoms earlier diagnosis

Provide funding for resources specific to elderly Records & research HIV in elderly understand problem Increase public awareness challenge stigma

The Socially Excluded

The Current Situation: GUM clinics PCTs working in the community

Sure Start Scheme

Preventative care is difficult Appointments GP lists Crisis care Patient autonomy

The Socially Excluded

Barriers:
Chaotic lifestyles Transient lifestyles Paperwork Money Mistrust of services Communication and contact Often high risk groups

Cultural sensitivities

The Socially Excluded

The Way Forward:
GPs

Education
PCTs in the community

P.C.T. is VITAL!

Developing Countries: People in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Current Situation:
Half the people in the developing world with HIV live within subSaharan Africa Huge improvements have been made recently in access to treatment:
The number of people receiving treatment increased by more than 8 times to 810,000 people

Still room for improvement Many barriers still in place which prevent improvement

Developing Countries: People in Sub-Saharan Africa

Barriers:
Poverty 20 out of 25 of the worlds poorest countries Shortage of 1 million health care professionals Long distances to clinics Patients stop treatment if they have to pay for it Stigma Patients not allowed to carry ARVs Not allowed to take them in the workplace 61.6% of those who started treatment were still taking ARVs after two years Lack of education Lack of education about the drugs and how to take them Poverty lack of education stigma Patients dont take the drugs, or dont take them properly

Developing Countries: People in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Way Forward:
Funding made available to bring the treatment to the people, rather than the other way around
local distribution centres means testing for drugs

Lobby government in countries where it is a problem to change legislation

allow patients to carry drugs allow patients to take them in the workplace

Educate people in the community (in areas where they dont go to school)
about how to take drugs about the severity of the disease to decrease stigma

Conclusion Conclusion
If these groups, amongst others are Each problem group highlighted has several factors for targeted and improvements are made to improvement their access, diagnosis and management Examples of factors are; aslack of fundingHIV we can move forward regards lack of awareness can fall HIV statistics of the risk factors
lack of education

Tackling these issues will improve HIV statistics

So hopefully HIV is not such a big issue for future generations