Introduction
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a highly prevalent condition that impairs the immune system and negatively impacts all areas of life in affected individuals. The first records of HIV in the United States date back to the 1970s, and the experts could accurately identify HIV by 1981 (Bosh et al., 2021). Therefore, it is a relatively novel virus that has experienced drastic increases and decreases over the past 40 years.
HIV Prevalence and Trends
Historically, the number of infections per year ranged between 20,000 and 60,000. There were several outliers, such as the rapid increase to approximately 130,000 cases in the mid-1980s and the consequent drop back to 40,000 in 1991 (Bosh et al., 2021). The cause of such drastic fluctuations during this period is scarce public awareness of the virus and its transmission mechanisms.
Since most people were uneducated about the disease, HIV spread rapidly for several years after its onset in the United States, mainly through male-to-male sexual contact, which remains the most relevant cause today as well (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023). After its peak in the 1980s, the incidence rate of HIV has been gradually decreasing without notable deviations.
Consequently, it is critical to assess the virus’s recent history to understand current trends and propose appropriate solutions. Similar to the overall trend, the number of HIV cases has been steadily decreasing from 2017 to 2021, the most recent data point (CDC, 2023). Namely, there were 36,500 cases in 2017 and 32,100 incidences in 2021, with a gradual reduction each year (CDC, 2023).
The prevalence of the virus remains disproportionate, primarily affecting men (81%) and having the largest incidence among African Americans (40%) (CDC, 2023). In other words, while the trend is downward, multiple health disparities remain, which should be properly addressed in the future through policies and comprehensive public education on HIV.
These approaches are necessary because the primary driver of the recent decline is improved public awareness. Since there is no effective cure for HIV, most strategies focus on preventive and proactive methodologies (CDC, 2023). In particular, sex education among adolescents has proven fruitful given the nature of virus transmission and the fact that people aged 13 to 34 are the most vulnerable population (CDC, 2023; Lameiras-Fernández et al., 2021).
Experts note the high efficacy of innovative solutions that combine technologies with conventional knowledge to raise awareness of the problem in schools and on social media (Lameiras-Fernández et al., 2021). Ultimately, it means that if people are properly informed of the risks, transmission mechanisms, and consequences of HIV, they are less likely to get infected.
Finally, somewhat surprisingly, COVID-19 has not significantly affected the HIV incidence rate despite its substantial impact on people’s daily lives and behaviors. There is extensive research on the interaction and severity of viruses, but the statistics confirm that the overall number of cases remained relatively unchanged (Mirzaei et al., 2021). This information is critical because it further highlights that external factors, even global problems such as COVID-19, have little impact on HIV incidence.
Conclusion
It is more significant to focus on preventive approaches and health education/promotion to reduce the national incidence of the virus. Ultimately, HIV is an entirely preventable disease, and recent policies have been effective in reducing the number of annual cases; however, the problem is still acute and disproportionately affects various population groups.
References
Bosh, K. A., Hall, H. I., Eastham, L., Daskalakis, D. C., & Mermin, J. H. (2021). Estimated annual number of HIV infections – United States, 1981-2019. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 70(22), 801-806.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017-2021.
Lameiras-Fernández, M., Martínez-Román, R., Carrera-Fernández, M. V., & Rodríguez-Castro, Y. (2021). Sex education in the spotlight: What is working? Systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 1-31.
Mirzaei, H., McFarland, W., Karamouzian, M., & Sharifi, H. (2021). COVID-19 among people living with HIV: Asystematic review. AIDS and Behavior, 25, 85-92.