Factors affecting the HIV/AIDS epidemic: An ecological analysis of global data

Abstract

Background: All over the world the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has became a stumbling stone in progress of human civilization and is a huge concern for people worldwide. Objective: To determine the social and health factors which contribute to increase the size of HIV epidemic globally. Methods: The country level indicators of HIV prevalence rates, are contraceptive prevalence rate, physicians density, proportion of Muslim populations, adolescent fertility rate, and mean year of schooling were compiled of 187 countries from the United Nations (UN) agencies. To extract the major factors from those indicators of the later five categories, backward multiple regression analysis was used as the statistical tool. Results: The national HIV prevalence rate was significantly correlated with almost all the predictors. Backward multiple linear regression analysis identified the proportion of Muslims, physicians density, and adolescent fertility rate are as the three most prominent factors linked with the national HIV epidemic. Conclusions: The findings support the hypotheses that a higher adolescent fertility rate in the population is the adverse effect of premarital and extramarital sex that leads to longer period of sexual activity which increases the risk of HIV infection. On the hand, and cultural restrictions of Muslims and sufficient physicians will decelerate the spread of HIV infections in the society.

Socio-demographic factors affecting knowledge level of Tuberculosis patients in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh

“…TB takes advantage of individual's with weakened immune systems, which is why it is called an opportunistic infectious disease. Consequently, the risk of TB infection is higher among the people who are HIV positive [3][4][5] . Bangladesh has been ranked 6th among 22 high burden countries (HBCs) where, the incidence rate was 225 per 100,000 population and TB mortality rate was 43 per 100,000 population in 2010 2 .…”

Factors Associated with Misconceptions about HIV Transmission among Ever-Married Women in Bangladesh

“…HIV not only affects the health of individuals but also impacts households, communities, and the development and economic growth of nations. Countries that have been hit hard by the AIDS epidemic have seen a mortality surge and life expectancy drop in the last decade (3).…”

Risky Sexual Behaviors and HIV Vulnerability of Male Migrant Workers in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh

“…HIV primarily affects those in their most productive years; about half of new infections are among those under the age 25 years [1]. HIV not only affects the health of individuals, it impacts households, communities, and the development and economic growth of nations [3,4]. New global efforts have been mounted to address the epidemic, particularly in the last decade.…”

“…On the other hand, an estimated 2.70 million people became newly infected with the virus and 2.00 million people died of AIDS related causes in 2007 [5]. Nevertheless, even though prevalence rates may be low, the large populations of many Asian nations mean that a high numbers of people with HIV infection [3,6]. In Asia, the total number of people living with HIV is thought to be nearly 4.90 million.…”