IDENTIFICATION OF THE SOURCES OF INFORMATION THAT NURSING STUDENTS ACCESS IN RELATION TO HIV AND AIDS
ABSTRACT
HIV and AIDS Human Immune Deficiency virus and Acquired Immune deficiency syndrome respectively is one of the most devastating worldwide public health problem in recent history. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that in 2006, 942,000 people in the United States had been diagnosed with Aids since the disease was identified in 1981. (The free dictionary.com). Ijezie, (2012) stated that HIV and AIDS are called pandemic instead of epidemic because no country has escaped. It is not known where it started. It poses a great danger to the full realization of the potentials of all humankind. It affects our religious, social, cultural, economic and political development and a threat to global peace, security and order. World Health Organization, (WHO) (2016) stated that the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) infects cells of the immune system destroying or impairing their function. Infection with the virus results to progressive deterioration of the immune system, leading to “Immune deficiency”. The immune system is considered deficient when it can no longer fulfill its roles of fighting infection and diseases. Infection associated with severe immune deficiency is known as “opportunistic infection”, because they take advantage of weekend immune system. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a term which applies to the most advanced stage of HIV infection. Christian, (2017) stated thus, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a syndrome caused by a virus HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus).The diseases i.e. HIV alters the immune system making people more vulnerable to infection and diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the syndrome progresses. HIV is found throughout all the tissue of body fluid (semen, vaginal fluid, blood and breast milk) of an effected person.
