Prepare for the Georgia Virtual School Health Exam. Access a variety of study materials including flashcards and interactive quizzes with detailed hints and explanations for each question. Ace your exam with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


According to UNAIDS, how many people were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide in 2017?

  1. 25.4 million

  2. 36.9 million

  3. 50.2 million

  4. 12.6 million

The correct answer is: 36.9 million

The estimate of 36.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide in 2017 is supported by data from UNAIDS, which compiles annual statistics on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS globally. This figure reflects the combined total of individuals diagnosed with HIV, including those who are receiving treatment and those who may not yet know their HIV status. The total number encompasses various factors, such as new infections, access to healthcare, and the effectiveness of prevention and treatment efforts in different regions. UNAIDS uses a comprehensive methodology to derive these figures, which includes surveillance data, epidemiological models, and health system information. In contrast, the other figures listed—25.4 million, 50.2 million, and 12.6 million—do not accurately represent the global count of people living with HIV/AIDS as of that year, illustrating either an undercount or overcount based on available data at that time. Understanding the scale of the epidemic is crucial for public health planning and response, which aligns with UNAIDS's goals to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS globally.