AIDS myths have misdirected people; know the facts
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a serious health condition and due to the several ways it can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person, myths around this disease are highly prevalent.
These myths have affected the lives of infected individuals and have also shamed them. People give up living a normal life following the detection due to prevailing myths.
More than 24 lakh AIDS cases in India
As per the India HIV Estimates 2021 fact sheet, released by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), a total of 24,01,284 AIDS cases have been reported in India.
"At the national level, estimated adult HIV prevalence (15-49 years) has declined since the epidemic’s peak in 2000 where prevalence was estimated at 0.55% in 2000, through to 0.32% in 2010, and 0.21% in 2021," the report said.
AIDS is a serious disease; the myths are the biggest concerns
"A number of widely repeated and factually incorrect myths have pervaded the AIDS research literature, misdirecting research and treatment," said a 1995 research report.
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The common myths stated by the study are: that all risk groups develop AIDS at the same rate following HIV infection, that there are no true seroreversions following HIV infection, that antibody is protective against HIV infection, that the only way to treat AIDS effectively is through retroviral therapies and that since HIV is so highly correlated with AIDS incidence, it must be the sole necessary and sufficient cause of AIDS.
"It's the end of my life"
With proper medical intervention and early detection HIV patients can lead a normal life like others. The mental anxiety associated with AIDS due to the stigmas should be avoided.
Proper medication can help AIDS patients lead productive years and ensure the same life as one would have had without being infected.
"I should avoid HIV infected people else I may contract the virus"
HIV does not spread through contacts. Several awareness has been created regarding this. Before 2000 when the knowledge around AIDS was limited people were scared of going near HIV infected people.
Even on this date there are several instances where AIDS patients are ostracized.
"You can easily identify HIV infected people"
No, it is not easy to spot HIV infected individuals. In view of the stigmas associated with HIV, such non-medical approaches to determining HIV infections should be discouraged.
Only proper medical tests can reveal whether an individual has AIDS or not.
"I am straight, I won't get AIDS"
It is a very wrong assumption that HIV infects people with a certain type of sexual orientation.
The fact is anyone who practices unsafe sex can contact HIV.
Other ways of contracting the virus is through unsafe injection, contaminated blood, unsterile piercing and STIs.
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