Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that infects a cell, mostly CD4 cells (T-cells, white blood cell that help the immune system fight off diseases), so that it can produce millions of little cells, eventually killing the CD4 cell and spreading out to infect other cells. (www.poz.com)

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a condition caused by HIV. As the virus attacks the immune system and weakens it, the opportunity for other infections and cancers grows. These opportunistic infections take advantage of the weakened immune system. People don’t necessarily die of AIDS – opportunistic infections cause death. (www.poz.com)

People are infected with HIV through transfusion of blood (as in contaminated needles from injecting drug users); exchange of semen, vaginal fluid, or pre-ejaculate from unprotected sexual intercourse; breast milk from infected mother to her baby at birth; and blood transfusions (though this has been largely eliminated on account of screening for HIV in the developed world). People have been receiving medical treatment through the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) since 1996–1997. HAART has significantly improved the survival and health of people living with HIV.

Prevent the Spread of HIV

The US federal government and state governments, community-based organizations, medical institutions, and other agencies run comprehensive prevention and education projects to prevent the spread of HIV. Some states, like Pennsylvania, have health departments that partner with local communities to design and implement intervention projects, like testing and counseling centers, which take into account the needs of populations infected with or at risk for HIV. Partnering with a community to implement a project increases its success; doing a conflict analysis of the community before the project is designed is essential to its success.

A needs assessment is a pre-intervention assessment that is conducted prior to designing and implementing any project. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/guidelines/herrg/gen-con_community.htm) and the Health Resources and Services Administration of the US Department of HHS (http://hab.hrsa.gov/tools/needs/) support the use of needs assessments.

݆ The rate of HIV incidence (the number of infections) is on the rise.

݆ New and fresh information is needed to prevent the spread of HIV.

݆ A conflict analysis framework, along with a needs assessment, provides new and fresh ways to prevent the spread of HIV.

݆ Find out how a conflict analysis framework can help prevent the spread of HIV.

Helpful links   

http://www.datehookup.com/content-the-aids-resource-list.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/cba/resources/guidelines/hiv-cp/index.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/cba/resources/guidelines/hiv-cp/appendixD.htm (Glossary of HIV Prevention Terms)

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/Factsheets/us.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/sexualbehaviors/pdf/hivtesting_adolescents.pdf

http://www.aids.gov/

www.nmac.org/index/cms-filesystem-action?file=hiv%20aids%20cdc%20surveillance.pdf

http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?Q=231591