Chapter 9: Ethics and Epidemics in the Developing World: The Case of AIDS in Africa: Treatment Challenges

Abstract

No other region of the world has suffered from such devastating epidemics in the recent past than sub-Saharan Africa. HIV/AIDS poses the worst single health threat on the continent and approximately 28.5 million of people infected with HIV/AIDS are in sub-Saharan Africa, yet, less than 8% have access to treatment. As African countries start or continue to expand their HIV/AIDS treatment programs with the assistance of international donors, they are facing several ethical and health policy challenges, including difficult decisions on how to ration available treatment, the high cost of drugs, the complexity of treatment regimens, the inadequacy of health and delivery systems, the lack of knowledge about treatment, and the threat of drug resistance.

Citation

Wasunna, A. and Fitzgerald, D.W. (2006), "Chapter 9: Ethics and Epidemics in the Developing World: The Case of AIDS in Africa: Treatment Challenges", Balint, J., Philpott, S., Baker, R. and Strosberg, M. (Ed.) Ethics and Epidemics (Advances in Bioethics, Vol. 9), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 189-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1479-3709(06)09009-1