Psychology Corner

UNAIDS and WHO [5] notes there are 33.4 million people (31.3 million adults; 15.7 million women; 2.1 million children under 15) living with HIV in 2008 since the beginning of the pandemic and 2.7 million people newly infected in 2008.  Two million people has died in 2008 because of AIDS, including 280.000 children under 15! And tragically this number keep rising.

According to World Vision, 2006 _[4], there is no country without this virus. Africa is in the most severe condition with the highest prevalence of HIV&AIDS. India has the highest population with HIV, and the most rapid of the spreading of HIV infection occurring in China. While Middle East/East Europe has been the quickest blooming in the world.

How About In Indonesia?

In Indonesia itself, HIV epidemic has been going on for 20 years. Since 2000, the epidemic has concentrated in high risk sub-populations (with prevalence > 5%), which is IDUs, prostitutes, and transvestites _[2]. So generally, Indonesia has been in concentrated epidemic stage. During this 5 years, growth rate of AIDS cases number is quicker than before. Department of Health, Republic of Indonesia _[2] reported the number of new AIDS cases in 2006 as much as 2,873. It is double than the number of the cases during previous 17 years of epidemic in Indonesia, which is 1,371 cases. This velocity is caused by combination of HIV transmission through non-sterile hypodermic needle and risky sexual activities among high risk population.

In Papua (Papua Province and West Papua), the condition has been further severed, HIV spreading by means of risky sexual activities has been happening in general population (with prevalence 2.4%). Situation in Papua shows the stage has reached generalized epidemic. Since 2000, HIV prevalence started to be constantly above 5% in some high risk sub-populations _[2].

*Based on Report of Estimation of Population Susceptible to HIV Infection in 2006, Department of Health (Republic of Indonesia)

What is HIV-AIDS?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus which attacks human body’s immune system and vitiates our body capability to against a wide variety of diseases. At the moment our body’s immune system starts to get weak, then health problems will emerge. The symptoms generally appear are fever, cough, or continual diarrhea. These collection of diseases symptoms caused by weak body’s immune system called AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). For all that, infected by HIV (or being HIV positive) doesn’t mean we will immediately fall sick. Someone can live with HIV inside his/her body for many years without feeling ill or having severe health problems. This period of  ‘the healthy time’ is really influenced by their own strong desires and how they take care of their health with healthy life style _[1].

HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk.  The transmission of the virus can involve anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids _[3].

In 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) _[3] grouped these infections and conditions together by introducing a staging system for patients infected with HIV-1. An update took place in September 2005. Most of these conditions are opportunistic infections that are easily treatable in healthy people.

For more detailed information, I really suggest you to visit http://spiritia.or.id. You’ll get many informations about HIV&AIDS in Indonesia (in Indonesian language also).

Suggested Readings :

[1] Green, Chris W. (2006). Seri Buku Kecil : HIV & TB. Jakarta : Spiritia.

[2] Komisi Penanggulangan AIDS [Producer]. (2007). Rencana Aksi Nasional Penanggulangan HIV dan AIDS 2007-2010.

[3] Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. (last modified June 17, 2009). AIDS . Retrieved June 17, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS

[4] World Vision Indonesia [producer]. (2006).  Berlimpah dalam Pengharapan, Keyakinan dan Tanggapan di Era HIV dan AIDS (HIV and AIDS Hope Initiative).

[5] UNAIDS [producer]. (2009). AIDS Epidemic Update, December 2009.