The AIDS epidemic has spread for almost 30 years. 33 million people are living with HIV worldwide and 28 million have died from an AIDS-related illness since 1981, mostly in Africa. Almost 17,000 people are living with HIV in Australia, and about 1,000 become infected each year; over 6,700 Australians have died from AIDS during the last 25 years.
This book contains an overview of the history and prevalence of AIDS globally and in Australia, and explains the latest developments in HIV prevention and treatment. Key topics include: understanding the causes of transmission; HIV prevention programs for specific communities and populations; HIV and safer sex practices; injecting drug use and needle exchange programs; HIV testing; drug treatments and the search for an AIDS cure; the experience of people living with HIV, including discrimination and disclosure issues.