HCA 430 Special Populations WK3-A

People Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS

Chanda Crews

HCA 430 Special Populations

Instructor: Steve Knowland

September 16, 2017

People Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS

Despite the fact that HIV/AIDS has spread to all American populations, African-American gay and bisexual men are the most affected. In the year 2009, this group comprised of 61% of all new infections that were recorded. Moreover, the statistics for 2008 indicate that this group accounts for 49% of the total American population of people living with HIV/AIDS. In recent years, HIV infections have been on the rise amongst the Latino population where a 2009 estimate indicated that Latino men were two and a half times more likely than Caucasian men to contract the ailment. Statistics from the Department of Human Health and Services shows that in 1999 to 2007, HIV-related death rates remained constant or people of ages 0-17 years. The death-rates for individuals of 18-44 years declined by nearly 50% while for those who are 45-65 years also remained stable (CDC, 2017).

Intersection of Social, Economic, and Political

The advent of HIV/AIDS bears significant economic implications due to its prevalence amongst individuals who are the peak of their income generating and productive years. Indeed, families feel the economic impact if a member is taken ill by an AIDS-related condition. This may mainly be attributed to the fact that parents are bound to experience drastic income cuts amid rising household expenditures. This problem is further compounded by the health disparities that are characteristic of U.S healthcare where the prevalence of the disease burden is synonymous with those who are less fortunate in the society (Rosenfeld, Bartlam & Smith, 2012). The distinct phenomenon of limited economic opportunities amongst the majority of the poor population which is occasioned with periods of homelessness. Such circumstances assist in propagating the proliferation of risky sexual practices such as exchanging money for drugs housing, money food, and safety which ultimately augments the risk of HIV.

In the contemporary healthcare framework, social-structural and individual level factors are regarded as the core influencers of HIV mortality. Indeed, the socioeconomic position of a person and the interactions with personal characteristics affect environmental constraints and resources such as stigma, social capital, minority stress, psychological influences including trauma and depression (Monteiro, Villela, & Soares, 2013). The manifestation of such negative qualities may affect the mental, as well as physical functioning as an individual who is infected, may find it cumbersome to maintain regular employment. Moreover, self-reported HIV-related work discrimination coupled with disease severity places people at the risk of job loss.

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s prompted political intervention such that the government in collaboration with public health institutions sanctioned civic education in regards to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (De Waal, 2013). Such efforts were geared towards mitigating the mushrooming of HIV/AIDS patients in the U.S. Additionally; the government has invested in establishing antiretroviral pharmaceuticals and introducing subsidies to such drugs with the aim of prolonging the expected lifespan and ensuring a higher quality of life.

Proposed Community Program

In recent times, there has been the need to access technically accurate information that is related to HIV/AIDS. Moreover, there is important for caregivers to develop an up-to-date health information although the large proportion of my community lacks access to customized electronic information resources that could be instrumental to the HIV/AIDS community. The program, dubbed AIDS Community Outreach Program, is designed to develop a partnership with local non-governmental organizations to provide a funding mechanism to improve access to information amongst caregivers, the general public, health professionals and HIV/AIDs patients. Moreover, such an investment will create an avenue for promoting awareness and the use of technological applications that would provide an innovative way of promoting awareness and augmented information access. In essence, this program is aimed at harnessing and develop skills required to use HIV/AIDS-related information that may be found through databases over the Internet (Stangl et al., 2013). In addition to this accurate information and educational materials such as culturally appropriate and language-specific tools are also incorporated as a measure of addressing health disparity issues.

The concept of empowering consumers that is, people living with HIV/AIDS would serve as an innovative measure for creating a paradigm shift that endorses patient-centered care including enhancement of better communication between patients and healthcare providers. This may be attributed to the fact that access to HIV/AIDS information by patients notifies them on the availability of any clinical trials, legal advice, social supports, and availability of alternative treatment for HIV/AIDS (Jacquez, Vaughn, & Wagner, 2013). Hence, online access to information provides access to current and latest information spurs motivation for participation in the decision-making process that have direct outcomes to health behaviors.

Issues and Risk Factors

One of the prevalent issues within the community is the fact that majority of the families affected with HIV/AIDS are drawn from impoverished backgrounds hence they face the risk of being subjected to delayed treatment initiation as compared to patients who are from an affluent background. Moreover, the work responsibilities of an infected employee may also conflict with his healthcare need resulting in the prevalence of unemployment amongst this population where the unemployment rate is capped at between 45 to 65 percent (Parsons, Grov & Golub, 2012). In addition to this, people who possess advanced HIV infection and AIDS are candidates for disability benefits which technically limit their ability to earn additional income. Women who reside in poor households are likely to experience challenges before, during and after delivering a child which augments their risk of contracting HIV infections and the related complications. This occurrence may be attributed to lack of access to prenatal care including challenges of food security adherence to antiretroviral therapy and breastfeeding in the event an expectant mother is diagnosed with HIV.

Health Needs of Population

Some of the health needs that ought to be incorporated into the community involve the establishment of appropriate training for young adults to curb the possibilities of gaining incomplete information from unreliable sources. Additionally, preventive measures should be accorded ideally to vulnerable groups whereby protected relations such as the use of a condom are encouraged amongst sexually active youths.

Proposed Services

The integration of public training and availability of counseling centers need to be facilitated whereby individuals have the liberty to consult on expert advice from qualified health workers in matters pertinent to HIV/AIDS.

References