HIV/AIDS and Poverty in Asia: Causes and Solutions

Introduction

Historically, diseases such as the Black Plague, tuberculosis, and influenza have shaken the foundations of society. In modern times, a new disease — Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) — has arisen and is just as damaging, or worse, than any that came before it. AIDS is a disease that attacks an individual's immune system and is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There is no cure once an individual has contracted HIV/AIDS. Biologists and genetic researchers have concluded that HIV originated in west-central Africa during the late 19th or early 20th century (Fan, Conner, & Villarreal, 2010). The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first declared AIDS in 1981 and identified HIV as its cause shortly after (Fan, Conner, & Villarreal, 2010).

Since the early 1980s, this major health epidemic has caused fear and poverty in every area of massive outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that approximately 33.4 million individuals globally are living with HIV/AIDS, with 2.7 million new cases per year and another 2.0 million deaths caused by AIDS (2011). In 2009, UNAIDS released a report stating that 60 million people had been infected with the disease, and it is believed that 25 million of them had perished (2011).

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has hurt many populations economically and has led to mass poverty and decline in some regions. Many experts focus on Africa and the damage HIV/AIDS has caused there, but the continent of Asia has been severely affected as well. To better understand the relationship between AIDS and poverty in Asia, this paper explores the concepts of poverty and HIV/AIDS individually. After establishing that foundation, a connection is drawn between the two in the Asian economic context, and several solutions and recommendations are offered to address the complexity of the problem.

Understanding Poverty

To obtain a greater understanding of the relationship between poverty and HIV/AIDS in Asia, the term poverty must first be examined. A simple definition of poverty is the condition of an individual who lacks material possessions or money. The United Nations defines poverty as a fundamental issue in which an individual or nation is denied choices and opportunities, resulting in an inability to participate fully in society (Sachs, 2006). The United Nations further states that poverty encompasses not having enough money to feed or clothe a family, living in an area without schools or health clinics, and residing in a geographic region where the land cannot produce enough food to sustain the community (Sachs, 2006). According to the United Nations, poverty causes feelings of insecurity, powerlessness, and exclusion; people living in impoverished areas are also susceptible to violence, fragile or broken environments, and a lack of access to clean water or sanitation (Sachs, 2006).

The World Bank defines poverty as the lack of income sufficient to acquire the basic necessities required for survival and dignity (2011). The World Bank notes that impoverished geographic areas typically lack education, healthcare, clean water, security, and opportunities for self-improvement (2011).

Poverty can be divided into two categories: absolute and relative. Absolute poverty describes the inability to afford basic human needs. Relative poverty is defined as having fewer resources than the socially acceptable standard compared with others in society or in other countries. Absolute poverty is more focused on the individual, while relative poverty serves as a measuring tool for comparing nations globally. When examining geographically specific areas, it is also important to understand the distinction between first-world and third-world countries. A first-world country meets economic standards and competes in the global market; third-world countries are typically described as areas lacking in material goods and are often characterized by relative poverty.

Governments can contribute to both absolute and relative poverty. In some countries, governmental corruption restricts citizens' access to healthcare, education, and basic goods needed for survival. A corrupt government can leave a nation unable to compete in the global market and can lock the country in a state of relative poverty. International organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank continue to strive toward a world in which poverty is reduced and eventually eliminated.

Understanding AIDS

To gain a fuller understanding of the relationship between poverty and HIV/AIDS in Asia, the nature of AIDS itself must also be examined. AIDS is a disease that attacks an individual's immune system. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined through extensive research that HIV is the contributing cause of AIDS.

When an individual contracts AIDS, his or her immune system is compromised, making the person prone to a variety of infections and tumors. According to disease prevention experts, HIV is transmitted through direct contact of the bloodstream with a bodily fluid such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk (Mahmud, 2004). HIV can be transmitted via anal, vaginal, or oral sex, as well as through blood transfusions, contaminated hypodermic needles, and exchanges between a mother and baby during childbirth or breastfeeding (Mahmud, 2004).

AIDS affects an individual's health by attacking the pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and neurological systems, and by causing tumors and psychological disorders (Mahmud, 2004). People living with AIDS also have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer and other cancers associated with immune deficiency. AIDS has also been associated with fevers, night sweats, swollen glands, chills, body aches, weakness, and significant weight loss (Mahmud, 2004). Without treatment, the survival time after HIV infection is estimated at nine to eleven years (Mahmud, 2004). Once the disease progresses to full-blown AIDS and no treatment is received, the estimated survival time is six to nineteen months (Mahmud, 2004). In general, the disease carries an 80% death rate, though modern medical advances are slowing its progression and enabling some individuals to live up to twenty years after contracting HIV.

Geographically, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region in the world; in 2007, it was reported that 68% of all people living with AIDS resided there (Hunter, 2005). The next most severely affected region is Southeast Asia. In 2007, 18% of all people living with AIDS were located in Southeast Asia (Hunter, 2005). India alone was estimated to have 3.7 million people infected with AIDS (Hunter, 2005). The World Health Organization reports that while many countries maintain average life expectancy figures of 65 to 75 years, in areas heavily affected by AIDS the life expectancy has declined rapidly (2011).