AIDS

“ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY

SYNDROME."

BY:
• Definition
• Causes
• Types
• Stages/Symptoms
• Risk factor
• Transmission
• Prevention
• Treatment
• Models
• Psychologist Role in the
HiV
 DEFINITION

• AIDS st&s for "ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY

SYNDROME."

• People with AIDS have weakened immune systems that make

 Causes

. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) virus

. From mother to featus during pregnancy , labor &

delivery & breast feeding

. Blood transfusion

. Sexual transmission
 Types of HIV

• There are two Types of HIV: HIV-1 & HIV-2

• Both types are transmitted by sexual contact, through blood, &

from mother to child, & they appear to cause clinically
indistnguishable
AIDS.

• It seems that HIV-2 is less easily transmitted, & the period

between initial infection & illness is longer in the case of HIV-2.

• The relatively uncommon HIV-2 type is concentrated in West Afric

 Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection
Withn 2 to 4 weeks affer infection with HIV, about two-thirds
of people will have a flu-like illness. This is the body's natural
response to HIV infection.
 Flu-like symptoms can include:
• Fever
• Chils
• Rash
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Mouth ulcers
 Stage 2: Clinical Latency
► Iin this stage, the virus still multiplies, but at very low levels.
People in this
stage may not feel sick or have any symptoms. This stage is
also called
chronic HIV infection.

►Without HIV treatment, people can stay in this stage for 10 or

15 years, but some move through this stage faster.

►If one takes HIV treatment every day, exactly as prescribed ,

get & keep an undetectable viral load, one can protect his/her
health & prevent transmission to others. But if your viral load
is detectable, one can transmit HIV during this stage,
 Stage 3: AIDS
HIV and- not on HIV treatment, eventually the virus will progress
to AIDS
 Symptoms of AIDS can include:
• Rapid weight loss
• Recurring fever or profuse night sweats
• Extreme and unexplained tredness
• Prolonged sweling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin,
or neck
• Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
• Sores of the mouth, anus, or genitals
• Pneumonia
• Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
• Main symptoms of Acute HIV • Central Malaise, Headache
infection and Neuropathy

• Systemic • Liver Enlargement

• Weight loss Fever • Mouth Sores and thrush

• Pharyngitis • Spleen Enlargemens

• Lymph nodes Swelling • Gastric Naunes and Vomiting

• Muscular Weakness • Skin Rash

 Risk Factors:

• A risk factor is something that raisesa person's chances of

getting a
disease or health problem. A person can have HIV with or
without any of those listed below. But the more risks they
have, the higher the chances of getting HIV.

• Certain lifestyle factors are linked to HIV infection. By

avoiding or
changing certain behaviors, a person can lower their risk. The
most
Having Unprotected Sex:-

Most people get HIV by having sex. During sex, the virus can
enter the body through the genitals, rectum, and mouth. A
person can lower this risk by using a condom during sex every
time.

Drug Use:-

Using needles to inject drugs raises the risk of HIV. This is

mainly true if they are dirty or shared needles. Even a small
amount of blood with HIV can be passed to someone else
Blood Products:-
Blood banks did not test for HIV until 1985. There was no way of
knowing if the blood had HIV in it. The infection was passed
through blood transfusions. There is still some degree of risk.
This is because tests cannot find HIV in a blood donor
who just got it.

Having Certain Jobs:-

Working in certain jobs raises the risk of HIV. This is due to
exposure to bodily fluids. These jobs may be in:
• Healthcare
• Prisons
• Labs
TRANSMISSION
 PREVENTION
• Awareness about use of condom, use of shared
needles/syringes

• Donors blood should be screened for HIV

• Rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS cases

• Strict sterilization techniques in hospitals/clinics should be

applied
 Treatment

• The treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy

(ART).

• ART involves taking a combination of HIV medicines

(called an HIV treatment regimen) every day.

• ART is recommended for everyone who has HIV.

• ART cannot cure HIV, but HIV medicines help people

with HIV live longer, healthier lives.

• ART also reduces the risk of HIV transmission.

The Health Psychology model of AIDS emphasizes understanding the psychological,
behavioral, and social factors that influence the onset, progression, and management of the
disease.

Components of the Health Psychology Model of

AIDS:
1. Biopsychosocial Approach :
- Biological Factors : Focuses on the medical aspects, such as the virus's
effect on the immune system, the progression of the disease, and the impact
of antiretroviral therapies (ART).
- Psychological Factors : Examines the emotional and cognitive
responses to the diagnosis, including stress, depression, anxiety, and coping
mechanisms. Psychological resilience and mental health are crucial for
adherence to treatment and overall well-being.
- Social Factors : Considers the role of social support, stigma,
discrimination, and cultural beliefs in the experience of living with HIV/AIDS.
2. Health Belief Model (HBM) :

- Explains how individual beliefs about health, perceived susceptibility to

HIV, perceived severity of AIDS, perceived benefits of preventive actions
(e.g., condom use, regular testing), and perceived barriers to these actions
influence behavior. This model helps to understand why some people may
engage in risky behaviors despite knowledge of HIV/AIDS.

3. Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) :

- Focuses on the intention to engage in protective behaviors (e.g., safe sex

practices) based on attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral
control. TPB can be used to design interventions that target these factors to
reduce risky behaviors and promote health-enhancing behaviors.
 Applications in HIV/AIDS Management:

- Prevention : Health psychology models are used to develop educational campaigns

that address beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to HIV prevention, such as promoting
condom use, regular testing, and safe needle practices.

- Treatment Adherence : Psychological models help identify factors that influence

adherence to ART, such as motivation, perceived barriers, and social support, and guide
interventions to improve adherence.

- Coping and Mental Health : Interventions based on these models aim to

enhance coping strategies, reduce stress, and address mental health issues that are
common among people living with HIV/AIDS, such as depression and anxiety.

- Stigma Reduction : Understanding the social and psychological factors contributing

to HIV-related stigma allows for the development of interventions to reduce stigma and
discrimination, which can improve the quality of life for those affected.
 Psychologists' Role in the HIV Epidemic

 Primary prevention includes changing behavior to decrease HIV

transmission.

 Secondary prevention includes:

• helping people who are HIV positive to live with the infection
• counseling people about HIV testing
• helping patients deal with social and interpersonal aspects
• of the disease
• helping patients adhere to their complex treatment program
► Encouraging Protective Measures- People can protect
themselves against
infection with HIV by changing those behaviors that are high risks for
acquiring the infection

► People infected with HIV. can benefit from various psychological

interventions.

► People who engage in high-risk behaviors may have difficulty

deciding
whether to be tested for HIV, and psychologists can provide both
information and support for these people