Impact of AIDS/ HIV

These days, the AIDS/ HIV epidemic is one of the most lethal health crises. As yet, there were 22 million people died, 42 million of people are infected by AIDS. Although professionals nowadays have discovered vaccine for AIDS/ HIV, but there still will be over 40 million people would die because of HIV. In many countries especially Africa, AIDS epidemic is spreading seriously bringing illness, death, suffer and poverty. The epidemic has obligated a heavy burden on families, communities and economies.

The misery and devastation already caused by HIV/AIDS is enormous, but it is likely that the future impact will be even greater, as the list of significantly affected countries continues to grow. It is difficult to predict with certainty the future course of the epidemic. There are several impacts on HIV epidemic, such as demographic impact, households and families, firms, health systems, education and economic growth. The epidemic has caused destructing demographic impact especially Africa. People have lost their life and significant lost of population.

According to United Nation population’s investigation, there will be more people lost their life cause of the epidemic coming decades. Although impacts of the HIV epidemic in countries other than Africa are relatively average and infection rate is lower, but the population losses are still enormous. Professionals expected HIV epidemic might cause 31 million people died from India and even 18 million people died from China by year 2025. Besides, the epidemic also affects households and families.

Households and families bear the most burdens, because they play important roles dealing with the disease and its consequences. Households who rely on patients as breadwinner will face financial difficulties due to loss of income and huge amount of medical expenses. As infection of HIV is most common among young adults, thus the family structure also will change rapidly. In several affected countries, the percentage of female headed households or even households headed by young orphan increases.

When a family member dies due to HIV, the family may be disintegrated; children might have to be sent to the orphanage or even forced to fend for themselves. Until year 2001, there were 14 million of children who were under 15 years old died due to HIV or have lost their parents because of HIV. 11 million out of 14 million children live in sub-Saharan Africa. In year 2010, expert predicted the figure of children died due to HIV or have lost their parents might increase. Furthermore, HIV epidemic also caused country’s economic difficulties especially weak economic countries which are prevalent with the epidemic.

Studies have been attempted to model the impact of the epidemic on epidemic growth in several highly affected countries. Estimates of the impact of AIDS on economic performance re usually not considered as “social capital” loss or damage to long-term accumulation of human capital, because HIV have affected education, nutrition and health in a direct and indirect way. Well beyond the time frame of most economic analyses, the effects of lowered investment in the human capital of the younger generation will affect economic performance for decades to come.