Glossary

Anthropologists – Researchers/scholars who study different cultures, groups of people, and ways of living.

Asset – An economic resource or advantage.

Bridewealth – Money or gifts given by the groom’s family to the bride’s family when a couple marries.

Cassava – A shrubby plant with edible roots that can be prepared like potatoes.

Developing Country – A country that suffers from a poor economy, low GDP, and lack of infrastructure.

Economists – Researchers/scholars who study systems of money, taxes, income, and interest.

Epicenter – The middle of an event or the place with the most damage. People often refer to the “epicenter” of an earthquake.

Epidemic – A disease that affects an unusually large number of the population.

Food Security – The ability to guarantee that a person and his or her family will have enough food to eat on any given day.

HAART – Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment. These drugs have proven the most effective in treating HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS – (Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is a viral disease that attacks a body’s immune system. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV/AIDS is transmitted through bodily fluids like blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. It can also be transmitted through pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.

Picture of HIV
Picture of AIDS

Intellectual Property Rights – These are protections given to people or companies for ideas and inventions so that no other person or company can copy them. These rights are recognized among different countries as well so that people are protected internationally.

When a company creates a drug, they receive a patent and are protected by intellectual property rights. That company can then charge what they choose to since no one else can make it. Using the money it makes, the company can pay more scientists to create more drugs to get more patents to make more money.

Matrilinealism – An Inheritance pattern that passes property and wealth from mothers to sons and daughters.

Opportunistic Infections – Diseases that affect a person with a weakened immune system. Many of these diseases, though, are not life-threatening if an individual has a healthy immune system and access to proper medical treatment.

Pandemic – A disease that affects an unusually large number of the world population.

Patrilinealism – An inheritance pattern that passes property and wealth from fathers to sons.

Per Capita Income – The total income earned by the people in a country divided by the number of people in that country; the average income of a person within a country.

Political Scientists – Researchers/scholars who study politics, governments, and political systems.

Sociologists – Researchers/scholars who study social organizations, society and groups that comprise societies, for example ethnicity/racial groups, urban and rural groups, etc.

Stigma – A sign of shame or embarrassment that other people use as an excuse to treat an individual with less respect. Because some people think that HIV/AIDS has a stigma attached to it, they may discriminate against those who have the disease.

Thrush – A fungal infection caused by Candida albicans. Thrush is the most common fungal infection for those with HIV/AIDS. Its symptoms include white bumps in the mouth, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing.

Tuberculosis (TB) – Tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic infection. TB is a bacterial infection of the lungs that causes coughing, fevers, and fatigue.