Final answer:
The development of artificial blood was heightened by the rise of HIV/AIDS, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, to reduce blood transfusion risks. Despite advances in treatment, HIV remains prevalent in poorer regions where blood screening is not as rigorous, necessitating alternative solutions like artificial blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pursuit of artificial blood development significantly increased due to the rise in HIV cases, primarily to mitigate the risks of blood transfusion with contaminated blood, a notable issue in regions with high HIV prevalence such as sub-Saharan Africa. This heightened concern arose from the realization that HIV could be transmitted via transfusion of contaminated blood, as well as through other blood-borne routes like needle sharing among intravenous drug users or unsafe medical injections. Improved understanding and technologies in developed nations have considerably reduced the risk of HIV transmission through blood transfusions; however, challenges persist in poorer regions where rigorous screening of blood products may not be as prevalent.
Earlier misconceptions that AIDS was solely associated with specific groups or behaviors led to stigma, but research efforts have clarified the modes of transmission to include sexual contact, mother-to-fetus transmission, and infected blood products, leading to a rigorous public health response. Despite advancements in HIV research and treatment making it a manageable disease in many parts of the developed world, in places like sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS remains a major public health crisis, closely linked with poverty and limited access to healthcare. The development of artificial blood aims to reduce the dependency on blood donations and lower the risk of transmission of diseases like HIV particularly where resources for adequate screening are limited.