Protect Yourself: Understanding the Risks and Prevention of HIV/AIDS

Categories: Hiv

Essay, Pages 5 (1003 words)

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Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, the audience will be informed on the risks of HIV/AIDS and the steps you can take to prevent this from happening. Central Idea: With this infection growing in the world, we must make sure that we are educated and that we avoid the behavior that will cause us to be exposed to the virus Preview: We must understand the causes, risks, and prevention related to this virus that is taking over young women today.

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Thesis Statement: In this informative essay, I briefly discuss HIV/AIDS, identity the 3 demographics from HIV/AIDS (age, gender, how people contact it), and how to prevent this growing epidemic. Introduction: Tina Middleton caught HIV from her partner at age 20. She didn’t know her partner had HIV until she got pregnant. Her life was changed forever and she thought that it was over. Tina didn’t let anyone know about the news. When she came to deliver the baby, the staff took extraordinary precautions to protect themselves from being exposed to the virus.

The steps they took to protect themselves was horrible for Tina. She had to get put in ward on her own, away from the other mothers. She had to finally confess to her family and friends because they wanted to know why the nurses were all wearing masks. Imagine if you were in this situation? Another horrible story, Olivia Ford was 17 when she found out she was HIV positive, but the shocker was, she was born with it, and had been affected by it for 10 years before she knew about it.

Imagine if you were in this situation? 1. HIV is one of the leading causes of death in the world. 2.

According to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (2009), 1. 1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS, estimated 18% of people living with HIV are undiagnosed, and every 9 ? minute someone in the US is infected with HIV a. In this informative essay, I briefly discuss HIV/AIDS, identity the 3 demographics from HIV/AIDS (age, race, how people contact it), and how to prevent this growing epidemic To begin with, I. What is HIV/AIDS? a. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual conduct.

This illness alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases b. HIV is the virus which attacks the T-cells in the immune system, AIDS is the syndrome which appears in advance stages of the infection. It is possible to have HIV and never develop AIDS. c. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Without appropriate therapy, most of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection. This brings me to my next point, II. 3 Demographics a. Age 1. HIV/AIDS is the 5th leading cause of death in women in the United States, ages 24-55 2.

Young adults and teens between 13 to 29 represent 39% of the new HIV infections, the largest of any age group. Black teens are disproportionately affected, representing 70% of reported AIDS cases among 13 to 19-years-old in 2010; Latino represented 19% b. Race 1. African-American and Latinos women are infected most by HIV/AIDS 2. Blacks accounted for 44% of new infections in 2009 yet, they only take up 12% of the US population. Latinos accounted for 20% of the new infection yet comprise 16% of the US population, while white represent 32% of the new infection and account for 65% of the total population c.

How Do You Get HIV/AIDS? 1. Sexual Contact: when you have anal, oral or vaginal sex with a partner, you will usually have contact with your partner’s body fluids. If your partner has HIV, those body fluids can deliver the virus into your bloodstream through microscopic break or rips in the delicate linings of your vagina, penis, mouth, etc.. 2. During pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding: babies have constant contact with their mother’s body fluids-including amniotic fluid and blood throughout pregnancy and childbirth.

After birth, infants can get HIV from drinking infected breast milk 3. As a result of injection of drug use: injecting drugs puts you in contact with blood-your own and others, of you share needles and “works”. Needles or drugs that are contaminated with HIV-infected blood can deliver the virus directly into your body What to do to prevent HIV/AIDS III. How To Prevent HIV a. The most important thing would be to educate yourself about HIV/AIDS and avoiding behavior that allows HIV-infected fluids-blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast feeding b.

Use a new condom every time you have sex c. Consider the drug Truvada 1. Only appropriate if your doctor is certain you don’t already have an HIV or hepatitis B infection 2. You should use along with other prevention strategies such as condom use every time you have sex d. Use clean needles 1. If you use a needle to inject drugs make sure it’s sterile and don’t share it e. If you’re pregnant, get medical care right away 1. You could pass the infection to your baby, if you receive treatment, this could cut the risk by two-thirds To wrap things up,

We have discussed a few horrible stories about people life’s changing from being infected from HIV/AIDS, also briefly went over what HIV consists of and the ways you can prevent it from happening to you. In addition, we went over the growing statistics of this virus. As young women we need to make sure we are being safe and having yearly checkups to decrease this terrible infection. Get tested if you are sexually active, it won’t hurt to know your status. Most importantly, educate yourself about this virus, make sure you are practicing the prevention strategies and inform others about the knowledge you know about the virus.