Statistical analysis of incidence of hiv/aids pandemic in nigeria from 1996 – 2005

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>1.1 &nbsp; &nbsp; INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p>Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the most unwelcome visitor of the 20th Century. &nbsp;It has been disturbing and posing a great threat to human race and world population. &nbsp;Since the discovery of AIDS in 1981 in America, there has been tremendous rise in the cases the number of deaths. &nbsp;The prediction of doom by some local and international organization like the United Nations is turning into reality. &nbsp;The future is so uncertain as to what will become of developing countries like Nigeria where the scourge is gradually taking its tell on the population.</p><p><strong>1.1.1 &nbsp;WHAT IS AIDS</strong></p><p>AIDS is a very serious disease that affects the body’s ability of defend itself against certain other diseases. &nbsp;It caused by virus HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus). &nbsp;It is retrovirus which affects and takes over certain cells of the immune system. &nbsp;The HIV virus penetrates immunity enhancing cells. &nbsp;It then makes new copies of itself and from there, goes on infecting other immunity cell. &nbsp;This causes the infected cell to function improperly and prematurely. &nbsp;This leads to weakening of the immune system thereby permitting all kinds of infection.</p><p><strong>1.2 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY</strong></p><p><strong>1.2.1 &nbsp;THE ORIGIN OF AIDS</strong></p><p>No one knows exactly where the AIDS virus came from but many scientist think it originated in Africa. &nbsp;One theory is that AIDS virus evolved from a similar, through harmless virus found in African Green Monkey. &nbsp;According to this theory, soemtime in the past, one of the monkey viruses underwent a change mutatim that enabled it to survive in the human body. &nbsp;This mutation was passed on to the virus’s “offspring” and eventually same of the mutated viruses found their way into the human body, perhaps as a result of a person being bitten by a eating a monkey (monkey brains are popularly found in Africa). &nbsp;Once inside the human body, the virus may have mutated further until it become the virus known today as the AIDS virus. &nbsp;Regardless of exactly where it started, AIDS is now a world wide problem.</p><p>AIDS was first discovered in America in the year 1981 by Dr. Montegor of the California University. &nbsp;But today, AIDS has been reported in over 100 countries of the world.</p><p><strong>1.2.2 &nbsp;CAUSES OF AIDS</strong></p><p>Most scientists believe that AIDS is caused by a type of germ known as a virus. &nbsp;The virus has been given a number of different scientific names including: HTL V – III, LAV, ARV and HIV. &nbsp;The most commonly known among these is HIV.</p><p>HIV stands for</p><p>H &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; – &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Human</p><p>I &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; – &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Immunodeficiency</p><p>V &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; – &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Virus</p><p><strong>1.2.3 &nbsp;SYMPTOMS OF AIDS</strong></p><p>It depends on which disease the person develops as the immune system break down.</p><p>Most common symptoms are:</p><p>i. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Prolonged diarrhea</p><p>ii. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Swollen Lymph glands in the neck, armpits or elsewhere</p><p>iii. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Unexplained weight loss</p><p>iv. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Persistent dry cough</p><p>v. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Severe skin rashes which comes and goes</p><p>vi. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Night sweat</p><p>vii. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Extreme tiredness</p><p>viii. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;White patches inside the mouth</p><p>ix. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Shortness of breath</p><p>x. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Proneness to different kinds of diseases like tuberculosis, cancer, pneumonia, chest infection, Meningitis.</p><p><strong>1.2.4 &nbsp;MODE OF SPREAD OF AIDS</strong></p><p>i. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Sexual Intercourse (homo, heterc)</p><p>ii. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Prenatal transmission from mother to new born</p><p>iii. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Blood transfusion</p><p>iv. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Use of unsterilized equipment and contaminated needle</p><p>v. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Contact with blood of infected person</p><p><strong>1.2.5 &nbsp;HOW TO AVOID AIDS</strong></p> <br><p></p>