Why is no one talking about HIV?
In 2004, the leading cause of death for African American women ages 25-34 was human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This was also the fifth leading cause of death in all women ages 25-34 following heart disease and several types of cancer.
Why is HIV killing so many women, and why is nobody talking about it?
Some background info on HIV
HIV has been in the United States since about 1979 when the first cases started to appear. In 1981, a panic began because HIV/AIDS was killing 75 percent of the people who became infected with it. However, the Reagan administration did nothing and instead focused on their “Just Say No” campaign. Early on, it was thought that HIV/AIDS was a disease that was spread through homosexual encounters alone, giving it the connotation of being the “gay man’s plague.” It was quickly realized that this was false. HIV or human immunodeficiency virus is spread through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. However, sweat and saliva do not spread the disease. Bodily fluids such as semen, blood and breast milk do spread the disease.
Stop the stigma
Part of the problem with HIV/AIDS is that no one wants to talk about it because of how people perceive it. HIV is perceived as a disease people get from unprotected, promiscuous sexual activity, or from sharing needles they use during drugs. While those are valid ways HIV is spread, children can be born with HIV or individuals can become infected following a bad blood transfusion. In the long run, does it matter how someone contracted the virus? HIV is still a disease that needs more research and more attention brought to it. Education and prevention of HIV (and other STDs) needs to go beyond the traditional “abstinence” speech and delve into truly safe sexual practices and other prevention tactics.
Why should I care?
I know what you’re thinking right now. “Seriously, Madeleine, why do you care about HIV so much? Why should I care?” Great question, hypothetical person! HIV is a killer. It is killing women at ridiculous rates. You see 5K races and ribbons for miscellaneous cancers and heart disease and things of that nature, but have you ever seen an HIV 5K or an HIV Awareness Day? World AIDS Day is December 1, for anyone who was interested. And the HIV awareness ribbon is red. All the information you need about HIV and how to become educated on the topic is available to you at the tip of your fingers. That's why you should care. Because unless people like you and me care, who will? This is a disease that has a stigma assigned to it. However, it is a disease that could be prevented through education.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” — Dr. Seuss
