An estimated 900,000 people in the United States alone is suffering from the HIV/AIDS; about half of this population are aware that they have HIV and around 350,000 are undergoing medical treatment. Once thought to be a homosexual’s disease, HIV/AIDS is now advancing towards African Americans. Despite comprising only 13% of the total US population, African-Americans comprised more than half of all HIV/AIDS transmission cases in the US in 2002. This trend is expected to worsen due to factors such as poor socio-economic conditions, drug abuse and lack of access to quality healthcare facilities. HIV/AIDS and the African-American
Introduction to the Problem After its first cases surfaced more than 25 years ago, HIV/AIDS still remains a major health problem in the United States. An estimated 900,000 people in the US alone is suffering from the disease; about half of this population are aware that they have HIV and around 350,000 are undergoing medical treatment. Initially targeting homosexuals, the disease is now fast closing in on the country’s other minority groups, particularly the African-American community. Background of the Problem African-American men are 8 times more at risk of getting infected with the disease than their white counterparts.
On the other hand, African-American women are 25 times at a higher risk compared to white women. They have also exceeded other minority groups in terms of incidence rates as well – African Americans are five times more likely to get infected with HIV/AIDS than the Hispanics. Despite efforts from the government and non-governmental organizations to curb the disease, treatment and survival rates remain very poor. The social pattern of HIV/AIDS transmission remains unchanged, suggesting the presence of certain interventions in the individual, state, regional and national levels. (Robles & Stringer Jr. , 2006, & Cargill & Stone, 2005)
Statement of the Problem Once considered as a disease that exclusive to the homosexual population, HIV/AIDS is rapidly spreading towards the African-American sector. In 2002, African-Americans comprised more than half of all HIV/AIDS transmission cases in the US. This figure was alarming, considering that they were only 13% of the country’s total population. Hispanics made up roughly 14% of the US population, but were included in only about 18%. Hence, there is an implication that lack of public awareness regarding HIV/AIDS may be a major factor behind its rampant increase among African-Americans.
(Robles & Stringer Jr. , 2006, & Cargill & Stone, 2005) Purpose of the Study This study was conducted to control and manage the relatively high incidence of HIV/AIDS within the African-American population. Despite several public health measures, the rapid spread of the disease in this minority remains unchecked. This may be due to several factors, including socio-economic, educational, gender issues, beliefs, practices and behaviors. Hence, the main objective of the entire HIV preventive program is to ensure that the whole African-American community is involved in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
Social workers and public health personnel should coordinate with families, schools, churches and organizations regarding the creation of activities that will provide the citizenry reliable information regarding the disease. Furthermore, the government should improve the quality of health services being offered to HIV/AIDS patients. Unless a cure or vaccine for AIDS is finally discovered, preventive strategies are very crucial. HIV/AIDS must not have a stigmatizing effect on the African-American community. (Robles & Stringer Jr. , 2006, & Cargill & Stone, 2005)
However, areas in African-American communities with higher concentrations of HIV/AIDS should have special preventive programs that will ensure greater access to treatment, accurate information about drug abuse and safe sex and enforce strict adherence to treatment. It has been proven that people with HIV/AIDS who adhere to a prescribed treatment regimen enjoy better health than those who do not. Hence, efforts should be made to have a program, which would ensure that the HIV infected population is identified immediately and treated appropriately.
(Berg, Michelson & Safren, 2007) Research Questions 1. Why are the incidences of HIV/AIDS high in the African-American community compared to any other minority population in the US? 2. Why are the survival rates and the treatment rates of the disease also poor? 3. What are the factors that are responsible for the problems faced by the African-American population with respect to HIV/AIDS? 4. What needs to be done in order to protect the African-American population from the disease in the future?