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  • Title: [Strategies and prevention of the increase of AIDS in Africa].
    Author: Bila K.
    Journal: Vie Sante; 1990 Oct; (5):33-6. PubMed ID: 12342927.
    Abstract:
    There is great concern over the prevalence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), especially because of the existence of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses. For example, in Senegal 9.8% of all prostitutes are infected with the HIV-2 virus as against 1.3% infected with the HIV-1 virus, and 0.7% infected by the 2 viruses. This situation has created many logistical problems for SSA as quoted from Dr. Ngaly's presentation at the International AIDS Conference in Montreal: 1) epidemiological problems; 2) socio-cultural problems; 3) illiteracy among most rural populations; 4) political factors; 5) ethical and legal problems; 6) the lack of new technologies; and 7) the inability to treat HIV positive patients. Added to these obstacles is the lack of coordination between national AIDS programs and the lack of institutional structures between African researchers and those in charge of the national AIDS programs. Lastly, in SSA there is the lack of an AIDS regional policy. In SSA, unlike North America and Europe where there are 4 high-risk groups for AIDS, everyone who is sexually active (with more than 1 partner) is at risk. However, epidemiological data concludes that genital ulcerations are co-factors of the HIV infection. Preventive strategies needed that are region specific for SSA include: 1) a more active role in mobilizing governments by the World Health Organization (WHO) requiring more coordination by clinicians, researchers and administrators of AIDS programs; 2) the need for national strategies aimed at 3 groups: the HIV-infected, the positive but asymptomatic, and the healthy population; and 3) the need to reach rural populations just as religious missionaries have done in the past. The discovery of an AIDS vaccine could solve many of these problems, but the ethical problem remains of how the vaccine could be tested in SSA without a regional policy.
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