Nutrition and HIV/AIDS: A Training Manual - Linkages Project

HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa• 28.5 million of the world’s 40 million people livingwith HIV/AIDS globally but only 11% of the world’spopulation• 16 million of the 19 million global deaths fromHIV/AIDS (83%)• 2.2 million deaths estimated in 2001• 70% of the world’s PLWHA• 80% of children orphaned by AIDS• 54% of PLWHA are women under 25Effects of the Virus• Attacks white blood cells (T helperlymphocytes and macrophages) thatare crucial in the immune system• Destroys cells and takes over theirfunctions• Weakens immune system• Increases vulnerability to lifethreateningillnessesPrimary Routes of TransmissionSexual•0.1%-1% risk• 70%-80% of all global HIV infectionVertical• 10%-30% risk• In utero, during labor and delivery, and throughbreastfeedingParenteral• Blood transfusions (estimated risk from a singleunit of HIV-infected whole blood is over 90%)• Needle sharing among drug users (risk of 0.1%,responsible for 5%-10% of global HIV infection)and needle pricks among health workers