In: Nursing
The first HIV testing called enzyme linked immunosorbent essay (ELISA) test was conducted in April 1985 US when a very little was known about the disease. This testing was evolved to screen the blood available at donation camps as necessary blood transfusion was considered to be main source of infection. The positive results was interpreted in two ways that if the person already has developed AIDS or he is exposed to virus. During this situation no proven treatment was present. The high mortality rates was mainly due to lack of early identification of cases, lack of treatment availability, social stigma and discrimination. The bias regarding the exact cause of infection made people fearful about the contaminated blood.
The number of cases and deaths increased rapidly during 1980s followed by substantial decline in the new cases and deaths by late 1990s. This was due to the change in characteristics of the person with AIDS since 1981.The greatest impact of the epidemic was found among men who had sex with men and among racial/ethnic minorities. In women these cases were reported which was attributed due to heterosexual transmission. The new diagnoses peaked in association with expansion of AIDS survillence. In 1980s most of the cases were reported among whites.