HIV/ AIDS

In January we were set a task to give a short presentation upon an infectious disease, I chose the disease 'HIV/AIDS'.  I chose to look at the social, political and historical issues surrounding the disease concentrating on the impact it had in the United Kingdom.

In 1981 the british government released this public information film, I chose to encorporate it into my presentation. Some of the key facts looked at in the presentation included:

• How HIV is transmitted- syringes/ needles and sexual intercourse
• There is currently no cure for HIV/ AIDS
• Historical issues- The first case was in 1981 in the USA. The press gave the newly discovered disease lots of nicknames such as GRID (Gay related immune defiency disease) and CDC named it 4H (hemophilliacs, heroin addicts, homosexuals and haitains) which added to the stigma of the disease.
• Political issues- Margaret Thatcher was prime minister at the time
• Social issues- I looked at criminal transmission of HIV, where people knowingly infect others through sexual intercourse and have been prosecuted for it.
• Conclusion- Free healthcare available to all in the United Kingdom. Sex educational is not compulsory in England & Wales

Bibliography for this subject:

·      Bowness, E., Brazier, J., Burrows, C., Cain, T., Craig, K., Park, A., Stamford, L. and Towle, J. (2011) AS level biology. Newcastle upon Tyne, Coordination group publications Ltd.

·      Givens P., Reiss M., (1996).  Humans biology and Health studies. Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes  Ltd.

·      Graham J. and Lewis A. (2002) As guru biology. London, BBC educational publishing

·      Hannah Booth (2011). ‘I knew I was HIV positive’.  London: The Guardian. [Online]. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/19/nadja-benaissa-interview-hiv-positive.[ Accessed 1 January 2013].

·      HIV aware (2011). Be aware/ Act aware. London: National Aids Trust. [Online]. Available from: http://www.hivaware.org.uk/be-aware/about-hiv/. [Accessed 31 December 2012].

·      Jane Dreaper (2006) ‘We didn’t realise the enormity’. London: British Broadcasting Corporation. [Online]. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5038750.stm. (Accessed 1 January 2013).

·      National Health Service (2012).Overview/ Real stories. [s.l]: National Health Service . [Online]. Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/HIV/Pages/Introduction.aspx. [Accessed 1 January 2013].

·      World health organization (2012) HIV/ AIDS key facts. Geneva: World health organization. [Online]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs360/en/.[Accessed 31December 2012].

·      Youtube. (2009). AIDS: don’t die of ignorance. [s.l]:Youtube . [Online].Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMnb536WuC0. [Accessed 1 January 2013]