A Look at the AIDS Epidemic in Children and Possible Solutions

One of the most deadly social problems plaguing the nation and the world is the HIV/AIDS epidemic. More narrowly, a look at the statistics of children with HIV/AIDS and/or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) will tell you that there is a very serious social problem happening here, and in this case, it's a matter of life and death. Understanding this social problem requires a look at the claims-making involved, a discussion of identity, and a discourse on solutions.

While the AIDS epidemic is often looked at from a global perspective, people in the United States often forget that it is a problem here too. A look at the sheer number of HIV/AIDS/STI cases in the U.S among the 13-24 year old population will tell you how it is a social problem. Analyzing the cause and nature of diseases; that they are nearly one hundred percent preventable, for example, will tell you why this is a social problem.

According to the 2003 census, there were 43,704 reported AIDS cases in 2003, up from 40, 307 in 2000 (U.S. Census). The number of STD/STI cases in 2003 was 1,246,906 in 2003 (U.S. Census). In 2005, the number of AIDS cases in youth/adolescents was 2437 (AIDS.gov). And the Center for Disease Control (CDC) "estimates that 19 million new infections occur each year, almost half of them among young people ages 15-24." These numbers are particularly alarming, and show that there is a social problem at work, and the trend is growing.