ANALYSIS OF AN HIV/AIDS MODEL WITH PUBLIC-HEALTH INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS AND INDIVIDUAL WITHDRAWAL

Abstract

Primary prevention measures designed to alter susceptibility and/or reduce exposure of susceptible individuals to diseases, remain the mainstay in the fight against HIV/AIDS. A model for HIV/AIDS, that investigates the reduction in infection by advocating for sexual behavior change through public-health information campaigns and withdrawal of individuals with AIDS from sexual activity is proposed and analyzed. The contact rate is modeled using an incidence function with saturation that depends on the number of infectives. The dynamics of the model is determined using the model reproduction number [Formula: see text]. Numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the role of some key epidemiological parameters. The results from the study demonstrate that an increase in the rate of dissemination of effective public-health information campaigns results in a decrease in the prevalence of the disease. Similarly, an increase in the fraction of individuals with AIDS who withdraw from sexual activities reduces the burden of the disease.