AIDS is a deadly disease that affects people world wide. AIDS is a disease that brings about many social consequences. Many of these consequences result in physical, emotional, and economic problems. AIDS compromises the immune system of the human body, making a person susceptible to many different illnesses and infections.
Among these are: unexplained fatigue and weight loss, night sweats and flu-like feelings. These infirmities can interfere with a person’s daily physical tasks. For example, taking a shower, eating, working, excersing, caring for a child, and cooking. Being unable to perform these tasks makes an n individuals life extremely difficult.
Individuals with AIDS also experience a number of emotional problems because of the social stigmas attached to AIDS. For instance, a person having to be scared to let others know he or she is infected, and being unable to engage in intimate relations without infecting others. Further emotional problems can be caused with the continuous worry of death, which can inhibit a person’s normal functioning. People who have these issues develop a great deal of emotional problems because one feels that they do not fit into society. AIDS is not only a disease that affects an individual, but it also affects the larger society. This is so because of the financial needs to help fund programs and organizations to help stop the spread of AIDS and help those who suffer from AIDS.
Although, the money goes towards helping AIDS victims it is costly for tax payers, when it can go towards helping people and developing educational programs within their communities. Why should the population pay for the bill for the consequences of others? As one can see, AIDS doesn’t only bring about consequences that indirectly affect individuals, but it also brings about consequences for society as well. Every year, millions of people are infected and die from AIDS. This is because of ignorance, acts of choice, as well as religious beliefs. It is assumed that all people know the causes of AIDS, however, most people don’t know.
Some people think that AIDS only afflicts homosexuals and drug abusers. This way of thinking displays that the government is not properly educating people on AIDS and prevention. A person who thinks in this manner feels that if they only have sex with a person that isn’t in an at risk group it is okay to have unprotected sex. This ignorance can be seen in some parts of Africa.
For example, men who believe that if they have sex with a female virgin they will be cured of the disease. However, there are people who put themselves at risk by having unprotected sex because they enjoy the pleasure of unprotected sex. People who choose this do so not because they are ignorant, but simply because they want to. Another reason for the spread of AIDS involves religion. For example, Catholic Church teaches abstinence before marriage, but this concept puts more people at risk because it does not reflect societies attitude towards sex.
Most people today simply have sex for pleasure, so not teaching the importance of protective sex the Catholic Church isn’t helping the spread of AIDS. Ignorance, acts of choice and religion are some of the reasons why AIDS is such a problem. The spread of AIDS will continue to grow until something is done to stop the problem. AIDS will continue to grow because of everyday ways of living, thinking and acting.
If none of these problems are addressed, AIDS will continue to rise, bringing about more consequences that will affect society as a whole. There are many causes of the AIDS epidemic and the effects worldwide have been server.