HIV/AIDS in the U.S
HIV and AIDS is a viral disease that affects many Americans. The rates of HIV and AIDSinfections are currently in America high despite it being the founder of the global response to the HIV epidemic. Regrettably, the numbers of those infected are extremely high worldwide. This article will provide a discussion on the most affected population with HIV and AIDS.
HIV and AIDS Facts
As widely known, HIV is a virus which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. When the virus enters the body, it paves the way for a detrimental diseased referred to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV weakens a person’s immune systems, suppressing its ability to fight back other opportunistic infections. Despite HIV being a global pandemic for several decades now, no cure has been discovered so far. What is there presently are medications (antiretroviral) that, once taken as prescribed, extends the life of a person for atmost 15 years for slow developers. In so doing, antiretroviral allows a person to live a semi-normal life that has few complications and issues. Examples of antiretroviral medications available today include Retrovir, Ziagen, Epivir, Emtriva, and Combivir.
Upon entry into the body, HIV starts to multiply rapidly, depending on the immunity of a person. The virus then slowly attacks and alters a person’s CD4 cells. In other words, CD4 cells are the white blood cells, also referred to as T-cells whose functions in the body is to fight any form of infection that tries to attack the body. As the virus continues to spread, it lowers CD4 cells in the body hence making one susceptible to other infections. According to the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person is confirmed to have AIDS when his or her CD4 positive T-cells become less than 200 per mm3. Many people, however, develop AIDs if the signs of HIV are not treated immediately they enter the body. Estimates from the CDC indicates that there are more than 1.2 million Americans living with HIV. Statistics further indicates that over 50,000 thousand Americans are infected annually. This number is not constant as it varies.
Population Mostly Affected by HIV and AIDS in the United States
Anyone can get the HIV and AIDS virus. However, there are certain groups of people in the American population that have a higher rate of getting the virus.Examples of groups of people who are at higher risk of getting the virus include drug addicts, prisoners, sex workers, gay men, transgendered women and children. Drug addicts for instance are likely to get the virus through sharing needles with people who they do not know their HIV status. During the injection process, blood stains remains on the needle and if another user uses it immediately, they automatically get the virus. Studies done by (……….) indicates that drug addicts have the highest rates of HIV and AIDS occurrences in the U.S. Without testing, drug addicts are unknowingly spreading the virus to other people.
Another group of people who are at risk of getting and spreading the virus are those working in the prostitution industry. Sex workers encounter with many partners who they offer their services to. In some cases, these people do not use protection or do not have access to condoms. Some prostitutes do not even understand the significance of protecting themselves against HIV and AIDS.
Studies on HIV and AIDSprevalence indicate that guy men are twenty times more likely to contract the virus than anybody in the U.S. population. Furthermore, studies show that there are more guy men living with HIV and AIDS compared to other groups of people. The main reason is because while having sex, gay men do not use any protection. Another reason is that anal intercourse is riskier than virginal sex because anal walls are weaker than virginal walls. Due to the thinness of the anal walls, the chances of contracting the virus also increases.
A study that was done in the U.S. in 2016 indicated that African American men who indulge in sexual relationships with other men are estimated to be 12,800, while white Americans were estimated to be 10,800. Latino and Hispanic guy men were approximated to be 6,800. Women estimates, on the other hand were found to be lower. In general, HIV cases among involving African-American heterosexuals women accounted for 5,200 while white American HIV-infected heterosexuals were found to be 2, 800 of the entire population. Similarly, the study revealed that close to 1,200 Hispanic female heterosexuals were HIV positive. It was also discovered that the number of HIV cases among African-American men who were guy was higher that drug addicts living with HIV and AIDS in the U.S. a figure that was estimated to be 1,100 people.
From the study, it can be concluded that out of the bisexual and gay men, Africa-Americans show a high HIV and AIDS prevalence. According to a CDC report of 2017, there was a 20% increment in the HIV cases among bisexuals and African-American gay men between 2008 and 2010. Although HIV and AIDS pandemic affects both women, men and children, data from 2015 to 2017 showed that 77% of the adolescent and adult population living with the virus are male. Furthermore, the data showed that new HIV infections were 10 times higher in African-American gay men than other groups of people. As indicated in a CDC report of 2017, there were more than 38,000 new male HIV and AIDS cases at the end of 2016 in the U.S. among which 38 comprised of African-American gay men.
For all the 38,000 diagnosed new HIV and AIDS cases in men, 36% were from the Caucasian population, while Hispanic and Latino groups comprised of 26%. The 2017 CDC report further indicated that 1 out of 52 men in the world always tests HIV positive in their lifetime. These numbers also means that 1 in 60 African-American also tests positive for the virus in their lifetime. Among the HV positive cases in African-American gays, most cases were found to be among males aged between13 years and 24 years.
Social Factors Impacting HIV and AIDS Infections
Like other infections, there are several social factors that influence HIV infection among certain groups of people. One of the greatest factor that several people are engaged in sexual relationships with individuals of same sex knowingly. African-Americans tend to indulge in sexual activities with people from their race. The higher the number of sexual partners, the higher the chances of contracting the virus. Also, African-Americans also struggle with high rates of poverty, an aspect that deter them from accessing quality and immediate care upon contracting the HIV virus.
Fear is another cultural factor that leads to the rapid spread of HIV virus among African Americans. As indicated by Scheid (2015), most African Americans are stigmatized by fear, which makes them not to seek immediate medical help in case one suspects that he or she has contracted the virus. Most African-Americans are inclined to religions that despite the use of modern medicine provided in hospitals and when one gets the virus, he or she opts for traditional remedies. As a result, those African Americans living with the virus continue transmitting it to other people unknowingly, hence increasing HIV prevalence.
Ethical Factors
HIV and AIDS presents a number of ethical issues in the American society. These ethical issues play a critical role in the establishment and execution of various HIV virus prevention and intervention programs. One of these factors is that medical practitioners have an ethical responsibility to record and report HIV and AIDS infections to health authorities. The main reason why the medical team must take action and report new HIV cases is to minimize further spreading to people who are not already infected. This also benefits the public health in general.
Encouraging expectant mothers to get tested is another ethical factor. The healthy life of a kid depends on the mother’s status. Getting tested for HIV in the U.S. for pregnant women is a mandatory exercise because the government wants to ensure that the live of the unborn kid is safe and incase the mother has the virus, she can be put under ARVs as soon as possible. However, some mothers refuse to get tested, an act that puts the life of the baby at risk of contracting the virus during birth.
Confidentiality is another ethical issue. A person who has the virus must inform his or her partner before having sex. The presence of privacy laws like those enshrined in HIPAA restricts parading the names of the infected persons in public. Majority of the people believe that all the names of the infected individuals must be made public so that those without the virus can protect themselves from getting the HIV virus. However, HIPAA laws safeguards individuals privacy under normal conditions. But in some instances, HIPAA fails to protect patients’ confidentiality and privacy. According to CDC (2017), 24 states in U.S. demand HIV-infected persons to disclose their HIV status at any point, while 25 states such as South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee and many more discriminate the disclosure act.
Components of the Health Care System that Can Help the Community to Combat HIV Virus
There are many components with the health sector that can boost the efforts of communities to fight HIV and AIDS. State and federal governments are the first and biggest components in this fight. Health agencies at the state and local levels have a mandate to ensure that Americans are safe by offering free HIV testing. This free tests cut across all classes of people but it is an advantage to the poor because they come to know their health status early start to take ARVs if they test positive. Moreover, healthcare givers and public health agencies play a key role in the community by influencing Americans to battle with the virus. This is achieved by offering education on the specific risks brought by HIV, in order to beware of what America and other countries are exposed to.
Public safety agencies, such as law enforcement can look for those who willingly spread the virus without letting their partners to know their health status and persecute them. Other important organization in the fight of HIV include the education and development organizations. Education is an important component. In the absence of education, Americans may not comprehend the risks presented by HIV and AIDS. Youth development agencies can enlighten adults and the young people on the causes, impacts and how to protect themselves against the virus through the use of condoms. The only way to people can protect themselves is through abstaining from sexual activities with random and unknown people.
Different Methods
The ways through which the HIV cross from one person to another are widely known. Some of the best way to prevent its spread is through prevention. Prevention can be achieved through monitoring the community health so that it can reduce the spread of HIV infection at the community level. The second method is enhance HIV diagnosis and carry out investigations on the impacts of the virus at the community level. HIV virus can only be managed if only people are aware of the virus. Therefore, healthcare providers and local American leaders have a mandate to inform, and empower community members regarding HIV and AIDS and other infections. Through these measures, community members will be aware of the virus and protect themselves. Research on the virus should also be an ongoing process to arrive at solutions that can assist in preventing the spread of HIV. The U.S. government should also develop new policy plans that can lead to the discovery of the cure of HIV and AIDS as well as support people who need help at the community.
Conclusion
HIV and AIDS as discussed is a global pandemic disease and a major health concern in the U.S. Currently, the virus does not have a cure, however, there are measures and medications that help in managing the disease. One such way is through the use of antiretroviral medications such as Ziagen, Epivir, Emtriva and Combivir. The virus presents several problems especially to the poor and people of color, particularly through stigmatization. When the right precautions such as abstinence, use of protection, avoiding to share sharp objects, the virus can be avoided. Moreover, taking ARVs during pregnancy can allow the unborn child to be born HIV free. Avoid having sex with multiple partners can extend the life of a person living by at least 15 years. While both the state and local governments have a big role to play in the fight against HIV and AIDS, Americans must protect themselves against the virus.