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Essay On The Aids Epidemic Of The 1980s

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The AIDS epidemic of the 1980s remains a significant chapter in American history, with eternal effects on public health. With numerous factors contributing to its outbreak, The virus accelerated through 150,000 Americans in the 1980s. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus which eventually leads to AIDS, spread rapidly within minority populations and the LGBTQ+ community. As both infection and fatality rates both soared during the 1980s, science worked vigorously to research the disease. The position which helped lead these people was held by two presidents, Ronald Reagan, and George W Bush. Although both were pressed with the same global issue they took drastically different approaches.
Specifically, the two administrations showcased …show more content…

Part of President Bush’s reauthorization of PEPFAR in 2008, includes “working with host countries to establish HIV/AIDS prevention programs for injection drug users and participants in the commercial sex trade” Bush’s reauthorization also called for U.S contributions to a multitude of disease vaccine development programs, including tuberculosis, malaria, and AIDS. (Pub.L. 110-293). Similar to handing out pamphlets to educate users of a prescription drug, these prevention programs influence likely infections to change their methods of either consumption or intimacy. Promoting “safe-sex” measures, the popularity of wearable contraceptives, like condoms, rose …show more content…

Your Complete Introduction to The Amazing World of Safer Sex!”readers were greeted in the first of twenty-six pages with the following message: “Did you know that with the notable exception of abstinence, condoms are the best available method of preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including … AIDS? … This manual was written specifically with the concern of AIDS in mind… You will be shown how to use [latex devices] to reduce your chances of exposure to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus….” It is in this manual where readers are presented with lists of dozens of sexual acts, and dividing each of them into three sections, “Safe”, “Probably Safe”, and “Unsafe”. The guide also explains a prevalent question: “How are the relative risks decided?” Taking into account how “the presence of the virus in certain body fluids [and] ease of transmission…”, readers are instructed on how to heavily reduce their exposure to the HIV/AIDS virus (Thorne

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