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Effects of HIV on Women
- Kitty Chan
- Sep 11, 2020
- 2 min read
With the added pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of HIV have been exacerbated. It is estimated that 37.9 million people worldwide are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with women constituting 19.2 million. The virus can progress to a more deadly stage, which is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV weakens the immune system and interferes with the body’s ability to fight diseases. It can spread through unsterile needles, unprotected sex, and forms of mother to child transmission. The lack of necessary resources and education systems can be responsible for why HIV is such a pervasive issue. Women are at a higher risk of getting HIV than men because of gender inequities and biological factors. Despite progress made towards the scientific understanding of HIV, many women living with HIV do not have access to prevention, care, and treatment.
HIV targets CD4 cells, which are white blood cells that are involved in fighting infectious diseases and foreign invaders. The virus significantly decreases one’s CD4 cell count, causing them to have weakened immunity. During the first few weeks of HIV exposure, one may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and fatigue. This is especially dangerous for HIV-infected women because they can transmit the virus to their partner or child without being aware since they are more likely to think they have the flu than HIV.
Outside of our basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS from school, we may not have considered HIV-related diseases as another factor in the fatality of HIV. Jonah Musa, a clinical investigator from Northwestern University states how there are many correlations between HIV and other fatal diseases afflicting women such as the increased risk of cervical cancer. The National Cancer Institute further supports Musa’s claim by indicating how HIV-infected women have a lower CD4 cell count, which results in the inability to fight certain cancers. Due to the lack of resources needed for treating and preventing cervical cancer, 9 out of 10 women who die from cervical cancer live in low and middle-income countries. Cervical cancer in HIV-infected women can be prevented or treated at an early stage; however, most cases occur in developing regions where certain countries do not have effective cancer screening systems available.
More funding to research and education programs can help the HIV epidemic, which can essentially decrease the number of women suffering from HIV and HIV-associated diseases. The HER organization by the global fund strives to educate young girls about HIV in order to spread awareness about prevention measures. However, poorer countries where HIV is most prominent may not be able to afford HIV education programs due to economic instability. An alternative solution is to make an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests more accessible. ELISA tests are used to detect HIV infection and are highly accurate yet cost-effective. Screening for HIV can prevent women from developing HIV-related diseases because cases of early detection can receive efficient treatment.
Resources:
Blood donations during COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.hiv.gov/blog/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-provides-updated-guidance-address-urgent-need-blood-during
Help end HIV/AIDS: https://www.unaids.org/en/donate
Donate - product(Red): https://www.red.org/donate
Sources:
HIV status, age at cervical Cancer screening, and cervical cytology outcomes in an opportunistic screening setting in Nigeria: a 10-year Cross-sectional data analysis. Infectious Agents and Cancer, 14(1). DOI: 10.1186/s13027-019-0263-4
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