Heterosexual transmission of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: international perspectives and national projections. 1987

N S Padian
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

The heterosexual transmission of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been documented in the United States by national surveillance data and heterosexual partner studies since the beginning of the epidemic. However, the efficiency of heterosexual transmission and related risk factors remain unclear. Viral transmission from males to their female sexual partners is well documented, although in the United States instances of female-to-male transmission have been observed less frequently. On the other hand, in parts of Africa and Haiti, AIDS appears to be a bidirectional, heterosexually transmitted disease that often occurs concurrently with other sexually transmitted diseases. Although a widespread heterosexual epidemic of AIDS could evolve in the United States, it seems more plausible that, like other sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS will settle in limited segments of the community characterized by certain high-risk behaviors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000163 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993. AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency
D012307 Risk Factors An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent. Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor
D012749 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Diseases due to or propagated by sexual contact. Venereal Diseases,STDs,STIs,Sexually Transmitted Infections,Disease, Sexually Transmitted,Disease, Venereal,Diseases, Sexually Transmitted,Diseases, Venereal,Infection, Sexually Transmitted,Infections, Sexually Transmitted,STI,Sexually Transmitted Disease,Sexually Transmitted Infection,Transmitted Infection, Sexually,Transmitted Infections, Sexually,Venereal Disease
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