ABSTRACT
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a fatal disease that strikes an adult, on average, five to ten years after being infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The World Health Organization and other researchers have identified several major trends within the African AIDS epidemic. Without a doubt, poverty and economic distress in the African countries have contributed greatly to the rapid spread of the HIV and AIDS. Africa remains one of the poorest regions of the world. Economic distress in Africa means that countries in the region face increasing pressure for the allocation of scarce resources. Those resources have been declining in their budgetary allocations for infrastructure, including health care. Some sociocultural traditions and practices that are unique to Africa have a major impact on the transmission of HIV/AIDS in the region. In most African countries there is considerable distrust of politicians and governments by the citizenry, and perhaps for good reasons.
