Hiv/aids

[Miss C]

The topic came up in class the other day and got me wondering...

In the UK/US/The Western World is it still really just gay men/needle sharing drug addicts that have this infection?

Lots of people were saying that..

I don't 'know' of anyone thats got it, i've heard rumours about a couple of people before, but really, how the hell would I know if I knew anyone that had it? I don't suppose they would publicise the fact!!

Do loads of people actually have it? Its one of those thing no-one talks about... but then, you wouldn't?

Sorry for the random weirdness of this thread!

 

[nics]

good thread!

to be honest i dont know much about the virus/disease, only what has been shown in programmes etc like eastenders (mark fowler) the film Philladelphia and also an ongoing story at the moment in Hollyoakes.

i dont personaly know anybody thats got it (well not to my knowledge anyway)

i always thought that it was smackheads and Gays that had it but thats just my own ignorance realy, but i think it is becomming more common now with unprotected sex in general!!

There are a load of ads on tv and on notice boards and in clubs etc about chlamydia and ghonnorea etc but i never see much being mentioned about aids???

 

[Lozzie]

apprently, according to stats, there is fastest spread of the disease amongst hetro people...and not necessarilly drug users. I don't know anyone who has it though. It's still such a taboo. It must be soooooo hard to deal with if you get it-a death sentence you possibly could have avoided-what a head blag. I know people do live for alot longer who have hiv now-the drugs are muuuuch better...but life is still cut short.

Also-does it mean you can't have children? How would you find a partner if you became/are single??? What a terrible affliction to deal with.

Has everyone been tested-i went for a full "screaning" not so long ago (just common sense isn't it?) and waiting for results for it were still nail biting (even tho i was pretty sure it would be a negs result.) They can do it while you wait now though can't you? Everyone should get themselves tested more frequently. Im glad they're cracking down, like by selling clamidia tests in chemists etc...and even offering tickets to gigs if you go for testing etc.


It's all still very taboo isn't it??? :S

 

[balan]

I have known gay friends but to my knowledge nobody I know has aids or HIV. what a fucking price to pay it must be.
I blame open relationships that seem to be catching on in the hetro world, though in themselves open-relationship are brilliant,

Has everyone been tested-i went for a full "screaning" not so long ago (just common sense isn't it?)

Though common sense is not that common.

 

[ilovepiano]

I've just done a quick bit of googling and this is quite shocking...

Africa is fucked isn't it? Never realised it was quite so rife there. How is it so bad there compared to the rest of the world? I know it's pretty poor like, but how has the message not spread about unprotected sex?

 

[Biskit]

Africa is fucked isn't it? Never realised it was quite so rife there.

it definately is

 

[misstickle]

I've known 2 people with HIV, both Homosexual. It's more prevalent in the gay community as it passes easier through male to male sex than hetro sex.

You can have kids if you're infected but there's a very high chance your child will be carrying the virus too (hence why Africa is so riddled with the disease, many of the suffers are kids and babies)

I think all mother's to be are routinely tested these days, but when I enquired about it when i was pregnant (10yrs ago now) I was advised by the midwife NOT to have a test as the results would be open for future employers to search for and even if I had been negative, the fact I'd considered that there was a possiblity that I could have may affect employer's decisions....How fucked up is that?

 

[Lozzie]

I've just done a quick bit of googling and this is quite shocking...

Africa is fucked isn't it? Never realised it was quite so rife there. How is it so bad there compared to the rest of the world? I know it's pretty poor like, but how has the message not spread about unprotected sex?

It's because alot of Africa is Catholic...and they won't use protection because the pope (even with the aids epidemic that is rife over there) will NOT condone the use of contraception of any kind...even if it would save millions of lives... He's been asked, and refused. They way it is, is the way it is...and so it goes on...

 

[Lozzie]

I think all mother's to be are routinely tested these days, but when I enquired about it when i was pregnant (10yrs ago now) I was advised by the midwife NOT to have a test as the results would be open for future employers to search for and even if I had been negative, the fact I'd considered that there was a possiblity that I could have may affect employer's decisions....How fucked up is that?

that is quite possibly the most unbelievable thing ive heard for aaaages. isn't that sort of information private anyway?? what a stupid bitch tho-basically discouraging what everyone is trying so hard to encorage. i hate it when health prof's put thewir personal oppinion accross...they fucking shouldn't...it shopuld just be textbook info-especially when it comes to something as personal and sensitive as that. recently ive come accross a few twatty situations like this-and it's suprised me...u always think doctors/nurses are to be trusted etc...but recently, im not so sure

 

[ilovepiano]

It's because alot of Africa is Catholic...and they won't use protection because the pope (even with the aids epidemic that is rife over there) will NOT condone the use of contraception of any kind...even if it would save millions of lives... He's been asked, and refused. They way it is, is the way it is...and so it goes on...

Serious? lol, there goes my sympathy...

 

[misstickle]

Serious? lol, there goes my sympathy...

I'm guessing most of the Catholic Africans are converted Catholics, with promises from missionaries that god will save them etc etc...

The irony is...god is killing them

 

[Jiglo]

It's because alot of Africa is Catholic...and they won't use protection because the pope (even with the aids epidemic that is rife over there) will NOT condone the use of contraception of any kind...even if it would save millions of lives... He's been asked, and refused. They way it is, is the way it is...and so it goes on...

That's not really the case though is it, at least not from the documentaries i've seen? Catholics don't believe in sex outside marriage either so that kind of debunks that theory

It doesn't help that men there see condoms as something not to be used through other social factors, or that men in some countries with aids see having sex with virgins as a cure, there's lots of reasons, but those are 2 i've picked up on through reading and watching.

I've just had a quick look here AIDS & HIV in Africa questions and answers and spotted this....

Why is HIV more widespread in Africa than elsewhere in the world, and why are some parts of Africa affected more than others?

No-one really knows the full answer to this question. However we do know there are many factors that influence the rate at which HIV is transmitted.5 6 Such factors include poverty; economic disparity; social instability; gender inequality; sexual violence; other sexually transmitted infections (which facilitate HIV transmission); lack of male circumcision; high mobility; rapid urbanisation and modernisation; and ineffective leadership during critical periods in the epidemic’s spread. Some scientists believe that differences between HIV subtypes have an effect on transmission rates. There is also some evidence that genetic factors and parasitic worm infections (common in sub-Saharan Africa) may make a contribution.

People in sub-Saharan Africa don't have many more lifetime partners than people in other parts of the world. However, researchers have found that in some areas it is not uncommon for people to have two or more regular sex partners at the same time. Someone is most likely to transmit HIV during the period shortly after they are infected, when they have very high levels of virus in their body. Therefore someone who has two or more concurrent partners is more likely to transfer HIV between their partners than someone who has a series of monogamous relationships. This too may help to explain why HIV is more widespread in Africa.

 

[li'l Sonz]

apprently, according to stats, there is fastest spread of the disease amongst hetro people...and not necessarilly drug users. I don't know anyone who has it though. It's still such a taboo. It must be soooooo hard to deal with if you get it-a death sentence you possibly could have avoided-what a head blag. I know people do live for alot longer who have hiv now-the drugs are muuuuch better...but life is still cut short.

Also-does it mean you can't have children? How would you find a partner if you became/are single??? What a terrible affliction to deal with.

Has everyone been tested-i went for a full "screaning" not so long ago (just common sense isn't it?) and waiting for results for it were still nail biting (even tho i was pretty sure it would be a negs result.) They can do it while you wait now though can't you? Everyone should get themselves tested more frequently. Im glad they're cracking down, like by selling clamidia tests in chemists etc...and even offering tickets to gigs if you go for testing etc.


It's all still very taboo isn't it??? :S

I was gona say that... so taboo that no-on replied for a bit! Lol.

I don't know anyone to my knowledge that has either. But this is something that scares me to death. Getting an STI that you can't get rid of, that can kill you, due to you being reckless!!! It must be sooooooo shit to find out you have it. And also, to have to tell people that may have it as a result of sleeping with you. OR finding out someone you love gave it to you... how would you feel towards them? Must be hard!!

It's because alot of Africa is Catholic...and they won't use protection because the pope (even with the aids epidemic that is rife over there) will NOT condone the use of contraception of any kind...even if it would save millions of lives... He's been asked, and refused. They way it is, is the way it is...and so it goes on...

Also Muslim as well, which again doesn't encourage the use of contraception... Also, they have mad tribes and shiz which means theres like loads of women to one guy and shiz. And isn't there quite a lot of rape goes on etc too??

x

 

[ilovepiano]

Awesome! HIV vaccine hailed as 'historic milestone' in fight against Aids - Telegraph

 

[Shooms]

The gays & the straights & the whites & the spades.... everyone has AIDS....

YouTube - TEAM AMERICA AIDS SONG AND DURKA DURKA


PS Chez.... long time no see - not been on here much... I think I missed your bday yonks ago... hope you had a crackin day x

 

[Jiglo]

31% better than a placebo pill is encouraging I guess

 

[Miss C]

PS Chez.... long time no see - not been on here much... I think I missed your bday yonks ago... hope you had a crackin day x

I missed you!!!! :S :S :S

Don't ever leave me again!!!!!!!!!

p.s. sonz - haha I was beginning to think i'd pushed the boat out a bit too far for a minute there, either that or everyone on osa had aids...!

It scares me to death too if i'm honest... the secretiveness of it... you just wouldn't know if somebody had it...because who the hell are they gonna tell?!xxxxxxx

 

[li'l Sonz]

I missed you!!!! :S :S :S

Don't ever leave me again!!!!!!!!!

p.s. sonz - haha I was beginning to think i'd pushed the boat out a bit too far for a minute there, either that or everyone on osa had aids...!

It scares me to death too if i'm honest... the secretiveness of it... you just wouldn't know if somebody had it...because who the hell are they gonna tell?!xxxxxxx

Almost I think, almost!

What would you do?? Dya think if you found out you had it you'd be able to tell your mates?? Weird one...

x

 

[murfso]

It's because alot of Africa is Catholic...and they won't use protection because the pope (even with the aids epidemic that is rife over there) will NOT condone the use of contraception of any kind...even if it would save millions of lives... He's been asked, and refused. They way it is, is the way it is...and so it goes on...

i find that quite upsetting what uve just put regarding catholics - the spread of aids is due to a lot of factors one of the major things was mass immunisation programmes using the same needle on thousands of kids - i am a catholic and i cant believe how u can justify that comment i only seen this through your other post
also it was due to lack of education as well as fucking green monkeys
u have just completely contradicted yourself in this post - yes catholics do not believe in sex before marriage but what the pope means is marriage is for life so he doesnt mean having multiple partners :|

 

[Mr Radish]

It's because alot of Africa is Catholic...and they won't use protection because the pope (even with the aids epidemic that is rife over there) will NOT condone the use of contraception of any kind...even if it would save millions of lives... He's been asked, and refused. They way it is, is the way it is...and so it goes on...

i find that quite upsetting what uve just put regarding catholics - the spread of aids is due to a lot of factors one of the major things was mass immunisation programmes using the same needle on thousands of kids - i am a catholic and i cant believe how u can justify that comment i only seen this through your other post
also it was due to lack of education as well as fucking green monkeys
u have just completely contradicted yourself in this post - yes catholics do not believe in sex before marriage but what the pope means is marriage is for life so he doesnt mean having multiple partners :|

The "Catholic issue" does contribute to the spread of AIDS in Africa, but it is simply not the only or main reason.

I studied the spread of AIDS in Africa as part of my degree and while conditions have changed since then many of the factors still hold true.

The main route of AIDS distribution was along the long distance trucking routes as drivers would stop off and visit prostitutes on their journey. AIDS soon spread in a largely linear fashion along transport routes. Once distributed along these routes it soon spread elsewhere as infected drivers slept with their wife or partners.

Certainly the Papal effect on the use of contraception is unhelpful in preventing the spread of the disease, but not everyone in Africa is a fee paying member of the Roman Church and contraception was not really used in Africa anyway.

There are cultural/macho issues that often mean contraception is not used. There is ignorance and mystic/tribal beliefs that also make people think they cannot catch it. There is a culture of multiple wives in certain parts of Africa.

If Catholics stuck to the core massage from the Pope (as Jiglo pointed out), they would only ever sleep with one partner in their life. How many Catholics in Africa or elsewhere have stuck to this teaching 100%? Not many is my guess. I suspect many who defend the Pope and the Catholic Church around the world also break the rules. . .such is life. . . .Jesus was "perfect". . we are not.

The facts are AIDS affects all societies, but Africa is blighted for many reasons . . cultural, religious, education & economic factors are all important.

It cannot be oversimplified, it is deeply complicated and very sad.