Abstract
M.A.
Hubley (1990) notes that Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a
relatively recently recognized disease. It is caused by infection with the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which attacks selected cells in the immune system
and produces defects in functioning. These defects may not be apparent for
years. They lead, however, to a severe suppression of the immune system's
ability to resist harmful organisms. This leaves the body open to an invasion by
various infections, which are therefore called opportunistic diseases, and to the
development of unusual cancers. The virus also tends to reach certain brain cells.
This leads to so-called neuropsychiatric abnormalities or psychological
disturbances caused by physical damage to nerve cells. Many of those infected
with HIV may not even be aware that they carry and can spread the virus.
Combating it is a major challenge to biomedical scientists and health-care
providers.
HIV infection and AIDS occur among the most pressing public policy and public
health problems world-wide. Since the first HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in
1981, through mid-1993, more than 600 cases were reported in South Africa. This
is only the tip of the iceberg of HIV/AIDS infection as it was estimated that
between 2 and 2.5 million South Africans had been infected with the virus through
the early 1990s but not yet developed the clinical symptoms. In terms of the
historical data from previous surveys (ie. the results of the 1996 survey) in South
Africa confirmed the trend of a growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. HIV infection has
increased in all provinces, but Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga had the highest
HIV prevalence rates of 18,23% compared to 1994's '14,35% and 16-18%,
compared to 12-16% respectively (see table 1).. Of particular concern are the
pregnant women in South Africa under twenty years where a prevalence of
12,78% has been found. Thirty per cent of babies born to HIV positive women in
South Africa are infected. Of the 3638 births in VVitbank — a rather small town in
Mpumalanga-.Province — in 1996, 219 of the women were tested HIV positive
(Masiphile Vol. 1: 1997).