Question

18. In The Origins of AIDS, Pepin states that "It has long been assumed that prostitution was the key determinant of the emergence of HIV in central Africa before 1981." Why is this assumption most likely incorrect? Why does it matter? 19. What is meant by a 'population-based' approach to healthcare? How did this approach contribute to the 'perfect storm' for HIV-1 emergence? 20. Pepin states that "In retrospect, it is extraordinary that the treatment received by most patients of the Dispensaire Antivenerien (STD clinic) was useless: wrong diagnoses, ineffective drugs." Why were most of the diagnoses most likely wrong? What role did STD clinics likely play in the ‘perfect storm, that facilitated the emergence of HIV-1 in Kinshasa and Brazzaville?

Answer 1

18. Yes, the assumption is incorrect because in a study conducted in Washington in may, 2003, it was published that the oldest occurence of the HIV virus in humans has been through an animal source somewhere arounf 1930s. Later, the recorded causes were that of blood transfusion in 1959.

The incorrectness of the assumption holds importance on social as well as biological grounds. Origin, spread and influence of a lethal disease must be made carefully to understand its biological existence and also to find a cure for the same.

19. A disease can be cured and treated and removed completely if it is secluded and controlled from expanding. Population based approach of healthcare aims at taking preventive measures for a complete well being by keeping every person disease free. This approach helps create an over all healthy environment and saves the entire population from the threat of illness.

Perfect Storm was observed as a high sensity spread of HIV across the globe. The main reason for that was the travel of the disease along with population. Thus, one of the major helping strategies to control the situation was to make population groups and target them for disease seclusion, treatment/mitigation. This way the spread of the disease could be monitored. Anyone entering a population was tested and certified for the presence/absence of the causative virus.

19. STD clinics failed to suppress and identify the disease during that time of the century because of lack of proper training on the same. Unlike other STD, HIV is more complex to clinically deal with. Although, STD mediated relief operations, generating reliable data, speading awareness and distributing condoms and demonstrating other preventive methods, were sucessful in getting down the rage and plight of the infected population.