Module 1: Origins of HIV & AIDS – Defining HIV & AIDS
SAQA US 116999 · 119560 · 14656 · NQF LEVEL 2 · 11 CREDITS (2+4+5) · MODULE 1 OF 15 · ROCHESTER COLLEGE HBC PROGRAMME
What you will be able to do after this module
- Define HIV correctly: Explain Human Immunodeficiency Virus, retrovirus nature (RNA → DNA), needs human cells to replicate, Clade C common in Southern Africa.
- Define AIDS correctly: Explain Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome as combination of signs due to immune failure from HIV, not born with it, multiple opportunistic infections.
- Differentiate HIV from AIDS: HIV is the virus; AIDS is the syndrome stage; a person can live with HIV for years without symptoms while virus circulates and can cross blood-brain barrier.
- Explain historical origins: Unnoticed late-1970s, first described 1981 Los Angeles (Kaposi's sarcoma + Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in gay men), Luc Montagnier 1982 France and Robert Gallo 1984 USA identifying HIV, WHO begins global tracking.
- Address myths and focus: Discuss speculation (green monkey, lab-made) vs purpose – giving accurate information to protect daily life; link to STI understanding for community awareness (US 14656).
Where did HIV/AIDS come from?
It is believed that by the mid-to-late 1970s this disease was already around but unnoticed. It was then clinically discovered in 1981 in Los Angeles, USA. Doctors were puzzled by a group of young gay men presenting with rare conditions – Kaposi's sarcoma (a skin cancer) and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) – diseases normally only seen in severely immunosuppressed people.
The early name GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) was quickly abandoned as cases appeared in heterosexual people, women, haemophiliacs and infants.
- 1970s: Silent spread – cases unrecognised.
- 1981: LA reports – CDC describes 5 cases PCP. Start of epidemic description.
- 1982: Luc Montagnier (Pasteur Institute, France) isolates LAV – later HIV.
- 1982 SA: First AIDS case diagnosed in South Africa.
- 1984: Robert Gallo (USA) confirms HTLV-III as cause of AIDS – same virus.
- 1985: Blood Transfusion Services in SA starts screening all donor blood for HIV. Antibody test released.
- 1986-88: Safe blood supply, AZT registered, counselling & clinical management established. WHO begins global prevalence data.
Learner manual note: “A lot of speculation took place about origin. No one knows exactly where it came from. Some say Velvet African Green Monkey in Central Africa, others lab-made. While interesting, the main task is to give people enough information to protect themselves.”
What is HIV? H-I-V unpacked
HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus – a virus known to be the cause of AIDS. Others call it the AIDS virus.
It falls under retroviruses because it is capable of changing its genetic material: RNA → DNA → RNA using enzyme reverse transcriptase. Such viruses are very difficult to control – hence difficulty finding a cure. Different strains = clades.
| Clade | Where common |
|---|---|
| Clade C | Southern Africa – SA, Botswana, Ethiopia |
| Clade B | Europe & North America |
| Clade A, D, etc | East & West Africa combinations |
Why it matters: Clade C is predominant in SA. All clades cause same disease and same prevention works.
Person with HIV has NO symptoms at start. Virus multiplies and circulates in blood and cells, can even cross blood-brain barrier to affect brain cells, without showing.
What is AIDS? A-I-D-S unpacked
AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
When HIV destroys the immune system, it malfunctions, giving opportunity for other infections to attack the body and cause disease. During AIDS stage, the person suffers from more than one infection at the same time. The strongest of those causes death.
| HIV | AIDS |
|---|---|
| Virus that enters body | Syndrome – collection of illnesses due to HIV |
| No symptoms early for years, but infectious | Presenting with opportunistic infections, weight loss, TB, diarrhoea, cancers |
| Can live healthy with treatment | Without treatment, immune failure leads to death from OIs |
| Diagnosed by HIV test (antibodies/antigen) | Clinical staging + CD4 count + presence of AIDS-defining illnesses |
How HIV is spread – and what you must explain to clients
Module 1 introduction – full transmission detail in Module 3, but define basics now for SO1.
- ● Blood and blood products
- ● Semen and pre-ejaculate
- ● Vaginal fluids / cervical secretions
- ● Breast milk
For infection: fluid must have enough HIV + entry point (break in skin/mucous membrane) + access to bloodstream/CD4 cells.
“We cannot tell that someone is HIV positive” – Do NOT judge by looks, age, class. Universal precautions & safer sex for all.
Module 1 task: Be ready to list 3 fluids that transmit and 3 that do not (saliva in small amounts, tears, sweat, urine) – unless blood present.
Why accurate information matters
| Myth / Speculation | Fact to Share | Your Response as HBC |
|---|---|---|
| HIV was made in a laboratory to kill Africans | Scientific consensus: zoonotic crossover – SIV from chimpanzees to humans early 1900s, then spread. No evidence of lab creation. WHO collects global data since 1980s. | “I hear this worry a lot. Scientists have traced family tree of virus. More important – how we protect ourselves now.” |
| You can get HIV from mosquito bites, sharing food | HIV does not survive or replicate in mosquitoes. Saliva, tears, sweat do not transmit. Need specific fluid + entry. | Explain difference between blood-borne and airborne / food-borne. |
| Only gay men, sex workers get it | 1981 cases were gay men because first recognized there, but virus affects all – heterosexual sex is main route in SA. | Use SA stats: majority heterosexual transmission. |
| We can tell by looking who has HIV | HIV invisible for years. Only test can tell. “Healthy-looking” still infectious. | Reinforce testing & not judging. |
Purpose – Apply accurate info to everyday life (US 116999)
Module 1 is the foundation for all 15 modules. By understanding origins and definitions clearly, you can:
- Dispel fear in families – replace “punishment” with medical facts.
- Promote testing – because virus invisible, test is only way.
- Understand why AZT in 1986-88 and later ARVs target reverse transcriptase step.
- Appreciate why blood screening from 1985 mattered – eliminated one route.
- Link to other modules: immune attack (Module 4), stages (Module 5), STI link (Module 6).
In pairs, answer: “What is HIV? What is AIDS? How do they differ? Where did it come from? Why can’t we tell by looking?” Then share with group. Use plain language, not medical jargon.
- • 1982: first case
- • 1985: blood screening
- • 1986-88: counselling services established
- • Now: ~7.9M people living with HIV (Thembisa/UNAIDS 2024) – reason to know facts
Say: “HIV is a small germ that lives in blood and sexual fluids. It weakens the body’s soldiers. You cannot see it. You can protect yourself.” Avoid: “Victim, sufferer, AIDS patient.” Use people-first: “person living with HIV”.
Module 1 – Can you confidently do these?
Apply – Community Questions
Case 1: “Where did HIV come from? My uncle says whites made it in a lab.” Tap to openClose
Situation: Community meeting in Soweto, an older man asks angrily about origin, citing lab conspiracy.
Learning Q: How do you respond without dismissing him?
Acknowledge: “Many people have heard that and it makes sense to ask – it’s frightening.” Brief fact: Scientists studied virus family tree – closest virus is in chimpanzees, jumped long ago, not made in lab. No evidence. Then redirect: “What we know for sure since 1981 LA, 1982/84 when HIV found, is how it spreads – through blood, sex without condom, mother to child – and how we can protect. Can we talk about that?” Link to purpose: focus on protection.
Case 2: “That lady looks healthy, she cannot have HIV. Can we share plates?” Tap to openClose
Situation: Home-based care client’s neighbour refuses to eat with family, but says healthy-looking people are safe.
Learning Q: Explain definition + non-transmission.
Explain H-I-V: virus lives in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk – not in plates, saliva, toilet. Person with HIV has no symptoms for years, virus circulates including can cross blood-brain barrier, but looks healthy – that is why you cannot tell by looking. Sharing plates = no risk. Unprotected sex with healthy-looking person without test = risk. Reinforce respectful language: person living with HIV.
Case 3: Teen asks “What is difference between HIV and AIDS? Is it the same thing?” Tap to openClose
Situation: School health talk, Grade 10 learner confuses terms.
Learning Q: Define clearly.
HIV is the virus – Human Immuno-deficiency Virus, retrovirus that changes RNA to DNA, needs human cell, clade C common here. AIDS is the syndrome – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – when immune system is so weak that many infections happen at once (TB, diarrhoea, cancers). HIV = cause, AIDS = stage when untreated. Person can stay with HIV for long time with care, ARVs target reverse transcriptase discovered 1986-88 era of AZT.
Myths that cause harm
- Client believes you can tell HIV status by weight loss only – misses window period where healthy = infectious.
- Belief that condoms unnecessary if partner looks “clean” or uses shower after sex.
- Thinking HIV came from green monkey bite today – leads to hunting/killing or stigma to people from Central Africa.
- Thinking AZT/ARVs are poison from lab conspiracy – stops treatment adherence.
- Using terms “AIDS victim” or isolating plates – increases discrimination, violates patient rights charter 1999.
What you CAN and must NOT do
Apply to your community
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