Facts on AIDS (Sources)

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

AIDS was first reported June 5, 1981. Most researchers believe that HIV originated in sub-Saharan Africa during the twentieth century.

Approxamitely 40.3 million people worldwide are living with HIV, including 2.3 million children under the age of 15. In 2007, AIDS claimed the lives of an estimated 3.1 million people, including 570,000 children under the age of 15. Over three-fourths of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

There is a great deal of discrimination, stigmatization, and denial regarding AIDS. Often, women and girls are culturally and socially more vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS. Many African cultures discourage women from asserting themselves sexually, from being able to refuse sex, or to require their partners to practice safe sex.

Economic hardships often lead women and children into situations of sexual exploitation, working in prostitution or exchanging sexual favors for daily necessities such as food, resources, shelter, protection and money.

Many children, especially girls are withdrawn from school before they reach the state of literacy to care for sick family members or earn money to supplement the household income.

Approximately 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to be orphaned by AIDS. By 2010 there will be approximately 20 million children who have lost at least one parent to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

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