Effects of Home Based Care Services On the Prevention and Spread of HIV/AIDS in Kampala Central

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1.0

Introduction This chapter presented the background to the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research questions, hypotheses, conceptual framework, significance of the study, justification of the study, scope of the study, operational definitions and anticipated constraints of the study. 1.1 Background to the study Historical perspective Globally, the epidemic of AIDS has become one of the most pressing public health emergencies of this century. Initial reports of AIDS date back to 1981. However, current data suggest that AIDS has existed for at least several decades. While both forms of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), type 1 and type 2 are retroviruses capable of causing fatal AIDS, infection with the latter generally results in a longer incubation period and a more indolent course of disease. However, the vast majority of people living with HIV are in low and middle-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region with an estimated 25.6 million people living with HIV in 2015. About 66% of new HIV infections in 2015 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 35 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic including 1.1 million in 2015. However, effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs can control the virus so that people with HIV can enjoy healthy lives and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others, Epping-Jordan et a!. (2014). The HIV epidemic not only affects the health of individuals, it impacts households, communities and the development and economic growth of nations. Many of the countries hardest hit by HIV also suffer from other infectious diseases, food insecurity and other serious problems, despite these challenges, there have been successes and promising signs. New global efforts have been mounted to address the epidemic particularly in the last decade.