Health Protection: Risk Assessment and Management of HIV in Africa

Risk assessment and management
of an HIV

Table of Contents
Title..................................................................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Risk Assessment...............................................................................................................................4
Hazard Identification..............................................................................................................4
Hazard Characterization.........................................................................................................5
Exposure Assessment ............................................................................................................7
Risk Characterization.............................................................................................................7
Risk Management.............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................12

Title
To understand HIV and its identification and characterization including dose-response
assessment, assessment matrix, exposure assessment, Risk characterization, and risk
management within the population of Africa.
Introduction
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that leads to acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (AIDS). When the virus enters the human body, it increases its numbers
and works by damaging the immune system. A special cell called antibodies is produced by the
immune system, which beat off the microorganism that is infecting the body. The body is very
exposed and less able to fight infections or diseases when the immune system is weak. That's
why, the degree of declension of the immune system or the extent of infection that gets benefited
due to a weak immune system, is defined as AIDS. HIV is identified as HIV-1 and HIV-2, Both
are transmitted in the same manner but HIV-2 is less easily transmitted (Whiteside, 2018). HIV
can be transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected person through sexual intercourse,
An infected mother can easily transfer it to infants during pregnancy or breastfeeding. In Africa,
HIV/AIDS has been a hidden pandemic, It does not develop immediately. HIV/AIDS takes a
longer period for development, which can be from two months to twelve years. The symptoms of
HIV are not consistent, It varies with the severity stages. Initially, a person suffering from HIV
experiences no symptoms of fever, headache and sore throat. As the immune system deteriorates
other signs show up like swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, rashes and sore throats. Without
proper prevention and treatment, it may lead to other health complications like Tuberculosis,
bacterial infection and also cancer.
However, almost 37.9 million people are living with HIV and almost 1.7 million people
are newly infected each year across the world. The most affected region is the WHO African
Region and almost 25.7 million people are infected with HIV. Almost two third of the global
population are from African Region. In 2018, 1.1 million people from African Region are
infected with HIV. For the first time in 2018, the key population i.e. drug addicted people,
prisoners, men who have sex with men, sex worker and their clients and transgender people, have
been infected and the infection rate is almost 54% among the newly infected group. In west and
central Africa, 64% of new infections are reported from key population and their partners and In

the east and south Africa, 25% of new infections are reported. Moreover, 95% of new infections
are reported in eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East and North Africa in 2018. HIV
attack the CD4 cell present in the immune system which has mojaor role in protecting the body
from the infection. Hiv first bind to the receptor present on the CD4 surface, then Hiv enters the
cell by fusing of HIV envelop and cell membrane of CD4.after this with the help of reverse
transcriptase enzyme HIV RNA got conveted into HIV DNA and then gets combine with the cell
genetic materials.Hiv uses integrase to insert the viral DNA into the CD4 DNA. Tthen with the
help of CD4 machinary long chain of HIV protein is formed. The HIV protein along with the
HIV RNA accumulate at the cell surface and act as a immature non infectious HIV, then this
noninfectious HIV pushes out of CD4 cell and releases proteases which breakup and form mature
virus.
Rapid Diagnostic tests (RDTs) are used in the diagnosis of HIV infection, They detect the
presence or absence of HIV. Legal and social barriers faced by the key population made them
vulnerable to HIV and hold over their accession to prevention and treatment programs. HIV has
no cure yet, However, effective Antiretroviral drugs can control the growth of the virus and
retard the transmission so that higher-risk people can enjoy and healthy and productive lives
(Moucheraud and et.al., 2018). The correct use of both male and female condoms on regular
basis during intercourse can prevent the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases including
HIV. Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is an important intervention for prevention
in East and Southern Africa with greater HIV frequency and low male circumcision rates. WHO
recommended VMMC as an extra prevention strategy, to boys and men by providing a package
of services including the test for HIV and education for safer sex and proper use of a condom.
The transmission of HIV from an HIV-positive mother to the child during the pregnancy period,
during delivery, or during breastfeeding is termed mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) or
vertical transmission. This MTCT can be completely prevented when the ARV drug is given to
both mother and baby as early as possible during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Risk Assessment
Hazard Identification
Hazard identification includes physical, chemical and biological agents present in a
peculiar situation and leads to adverse health effects (Gonzalez-Guarda and et.al., 2021). In the