What is it?
HIV” stands for Human Immunodeficiency
Virus. This virus hides in the body for a long time unlike the other infections
that the immune system can detect. When the internal body’s environment is
favorable the HIV starts to invade particular type of cells called T-cells. The
invading virus forces the infected cell to make copies of the virus and destroy
T-cells.
What is Driving The Epidemic?
The AIDS epidemic is a health threat that touches the livesof many Americans today. AIDS is a silent killer that takes no prisoners and favors neither the young nor the old. The affect that a disease like AIDS can have on a population is no doubt devastating, but there are also troubling factors that come to light when the statistics are analyzed. These figures reveal a deeper cause of the persistence of the AIDS epidemic in America.
HIV has infected more
than 1.2 million people the United States and roughly 14 % these people don’t
know that they are living with an HIV infection. In the past 10 years, the
amount of people living with HIV has increased http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/gender/msm/facts/index.html/ (CDC, 2014). It is believed that
around 50,000 of people acquire new HIV infections per year (HIV
& AIDS in USA, 2013). According to the CDC 48 thousand people
were diagnosed with HIV and 28 thousand people were diagnosed with AIDS in
2012.
According to the HIV
& AIDS in USA (2013), “Since the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemic,
600,000 people have died of AIDS-related illnesses”. About 13 thousand of
the people who have been diagnosed with AIDS died in the year of 2011, although
their deaths are not always be related to AIDS.
Who is Most Affected?
| CDC. HIV prevalence estimates—United States, 2006. MMWR 2008;57:1073-76. |
- Those Living at or below the poverty line
- Minorities; African American, Latino etc.
- Men who engage in sexual activities with other men
- Those who engage in sharing needles or other intravenous drug use.
HIV Prevalence Rate, by Race/Ethnicity
According to Derrer (2014) African
Americans make up 14% of the US population but they represent 44% of new HIV
cases. Together African American and
Latino populations make up 68% of new infections in our country (Avert,
2014). African Americans also
account for 48% of the deaths from HIV and in 2010 HIV was the fifth leading
cause of death among African Americans (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014).
The
picture is even bleaker in black women, teens, and children. Among
youths and women those of African American and Latino descent also make up a
larger percentage of new infections, among women African Americans made up 64%
of new infections in 2010 while African American youths (13-24 years) made up
33% of new infections (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). This gross racial disparity must be addressed through better
AIDS education programs and health resources being made available to
minorities, particularly women.
In
addition to the disproportionate racial makeup of AIDS victims there is also a
large difference in how it affects those living in poverty. According to a CDC
study (as cited in HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2014) Individuals living below the
poverty line were twice as likely to be HIV infected as those who lived in the
same community but lived above the poverty line, (2.3% prevalence vs. 1%).
These
figures point to the existence of a socioeconomic disparity in those who
contract aids. There is a need in impoverished communities for services such as
affordable healthcare to help combat the AIDS crisis. In order to effectively
fight AIDS the underlying causes of racial inequality and poverty must be
addressed.
Perhaps the most affected by HIV/AIDS is the LGTBQ community. While homosexual males only constitute an
estimated 2% of the population they make up the largest number of new
infections at 63% (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012). Lack of preventative education and lack of
awareness of their infection status are both causes for the prevalence of HIV
infection among this population (Wejnert, 2013). A study that collected data in 2008 and 2011
on HIV infection awareness among gay men found that men in 2011 were more aware
of their infection status than in 2008. Of those men who knew their status it was
reported that age, income and education were important factors in whether or
not men of this community were aware of their infection status (Wejnert, 2013). Despite increasing awareness only 66 percent
of homosexual men living with HIV know that they are infected, this lack of
awareness accounts for the diseases high transmission rates among this
population (Avert, 2014).
How do we combat the Issue?
While lack of awareness is a serious factor in the transmission
rate there are other elements that education and access to health care can
address. Below are some transmission
means that education and awareness can help circumvent:
1.
HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease. HIV infection can
be transmitted though some body fluids like; pre-seminal fluid, semen, vaginal
and rectal fluids. The transmission of HIV can be prevented by using condoms
and other contact barriers.
Solution; Providing sex education and easy
affordable access to condoms.
2.
Intravenous drug use and sharing syringes can also spread the
disease.
Solution; Providing easy access to needle
swap programs, drug rehab and drug safety education.
3.Blood transfusion: transferring
contaminated blood to a healthy patient or using and infected instrument.
Solution;
Following strict protocol for blood testing prior to transfusion and donation.
3.
Breast milk: infected mother can transfer the infection to
her infant via breast-feeding.
Solution; Increasing awareness of infection
status, access to infant formula, medication and changing cultural stigma
regarding HIV status.
7. Sharing the personal tools like
toothbrush: if the infected person has a bleeding gum or even through saliva,
although this method is less likely.
Solution; Increasing awareness of infection
status, and decreasing the cultural stigma surrounding being HIV positive. If you are not worried about feeling ashamed
of admitting to your infection status then you are able to protect those around
you from engaging in activities that may put them at risk of infection. By being honest with them you make them you
put yourself in a position to educate them on ways to protect themselves.
8.
Kissing if the infected person has an open wound in lips or bleeding gum
according to how do you get HIV or AIDS (2014).
Solution; Increasing awareness of infection status, and
decreasing the cultural stigma s surrounding being HIV positive.
Group 17;
Written by: Madeline Ritter, Wejdan Hawsawi, Isaac Ross and Juwairiyah Rashidahmed. (12/01/2014).
References
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Bowers, J. R., Branson, C. M., Fletcher, J. B., & Reback,
C. J. (2012). Predictors of HIV sexual
risk behavior among men who have sex with
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). HIV among
gay and bisexual men fact sheet. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/gender/msm/facts/index.html/
Derrer, D. (2014, January 1).
HIV and AIDS in Blacks: An Alarming Crisis. Retrieved November 29, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-in-blacks-alarming-crisis
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Is methamphetamine abuse a risk factor in parkinsonism?.
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Kaiser Family Foundation. (2014, July 7). The
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