Project Materials

IDENTIFICATION OF THE SOURCES OF INFORMATION THAT NURSING STUDENTS ACCESS IN RELATION TO HIV AND AIDS

ABSTRACT

HIV & AIDS Human Immuno Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, respectively, are two of the most severe global public health issues in recent memory. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 942,000 persons in the United States have been diagnosed with Aids since the disease was first discovered in 1981. According to Ijezie (2012), HIV and AIDS are classified as pandemics rather than epidemics because no country has escaped. It is unclear where it started. It jeopardises the full realisation of humanity’s potential. It has an impact on our religious, social, cultural, economic, and political development, as well as putting world peace, security, and order at risk. According to the World Health Organisation (2016), the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) assaults immune system cells, killing or reducing their function. Infection with the virus causes progressive degradation of the immune system, resulting in “Immune deficiency”. The immune system is considered inadequate when it is no longer capable of battling infection and disease. Infection associated with significant immunological deficit is characterised as “opportunistic infection” because it exploits the weak immune system. Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) refers to the most advanced stage of HIV infection. According to Christian (2017), AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) is a syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. The disease, HIV, changes the immune system, leaving patients more susceptible to infection and sickness. The susceptibility worsens as the illness progresses. HIV can be identified in all of an affected person’s bodily fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, blood, and breast milk).

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background for the Study

Human Immune Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or HIV/AIDS, is one of the world’s most dreaded killer diseases.

It is also the most difficult problem that national and international health workers, organisations, governments, and civil society face in their efforts to give treatment to an ever-increasing infected population, particularly in developing countries.

The world has spent a lot of money (both cash and in kind) on HIV/AIDS prevention, stigma, medications, infrastructure, human resources, and treatment costs. These efforts all add up to account for the difficulties and obstacles in combating this viral disease.