HIV-AIDS : Its Effects and

Challenges
Harold Paulo T. Mejia, RN

Image courtesy of rappler.com

Shifting of trend on HIV Infection
 HIV and youth :
According to World Health Organization:
Currently, over 30% of all new HIV infections globally are estimated to
occur among youth ages 15 to 25 years. Also, increasingly, children
infected at birth grow into adolescents who have to deal with their HIV
positive status. Combining the two, there are 5 million youth living with
HIV.
 How does millennials get
infected?
• Unprotected Sex.
• Lack of education/awareness
on HIV-AIDS
• several young Filipinos do not
access such information and
services. In fact, there are
health centers offering free HIV
tests, counselling, and
treatment.

Source:https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/173761-orgy-tinder-social-media-sex-
hiv-aids-youth-philippines
• Mobile apps have made finding dates
even easier for gay men. Behavioral
surveys have found that 80% of men who
have sex with men surveyed in 35 cities
in the Philippines were members of social
networking sites and nearly 40% had
found sex partners through the sites. -
2016 UNAIDS
Problems encountered
by PLHIVs
Discrimination and
Stigma
• HIV and AIDS-related stigma can lead to
discrimination, for example, when people
living with HIV are prohibited from
travelling, using healthcare facilities or
seeking employment.
• According to a 2017 report from DOH,
only 33% of HIV positive Filipinos are
enrolled in the government’s treatment
programs due to stigma and prejudice.
 Family :
• Stress (anxiety, irritability and even depression)
• Discrimination
• Lack of support system
• Broken family
• Loss of income
• Not being permitted for a job.
• Losing job due to body deterioration if
unable to seek early medical care and
treatment.
• Fear of transmission is still a worry for co-
workers.
Difficult to
maintain or start
a relationship.
Mental
Health
 What can be done to end HIV-AIDS?
• Awareness/Educate
• End stigma and discrimination
• Safe/protected sex (Remember the ABCDE of HIV)
• Improve/ strengthen HIV Policy law
• Know your status get tested.
The LoveYourself counselors pooled their insights and and
came up with this helpful “instead of, try…” list of things you
can say when someone tells you he or she is living with HIV.
https://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/180813-what-to-do-
say-hiv