The first case of HIV/AIDS surfaced more than 25 years back, and today the disease is having global implications. The disease initially seemed to be affecting only the homosexual groups initially, but today it is targeting the minorities. About 900, 000 of the population in the US is suffering from the disease. About half of these know about their HIV-status and about 350, 000 are on medical treatment. However, HIV/AIDS has turned out to be a disease more often affecting the minority groups especially the African-Americans in the US. It is turning out to be a serious health problem in this group.
The African-American male and female populations are more frequently affected with HIV/AIDS compared to the White population. Amongst the minority population also, the African-American have exceeded the Hispanics in terms of incidence rates (5 times more likely of getting infected with the disease). Not only the incidence rates of the disease are high in the African-American populations, but also their treatment rates and survival rates are very poor. African-American men are 8 times at a higher risk of getting infected with the disease than their White counterparts.
On the other hand, women are 25 times at a higher risk compared to their White counterparts. In spite of efforts made by governmental and non-governmental agencies to curb the disease, this social pattern of occurrence of the disease seems to be the same. This suggests certain interventions at the individual, community, state, regional and national levels needs to be present (Robles & Stringer Jr. , 2006, & Cargill & Stone, 2005). Statement of the problem – The incidences of HIV/AIDS seems to be higher in African-American populations.
Initially, when the disease was discovered, it was found to occur more often in the gay population. However, as the disease became more and more widespread, it tended to affect individuals from various sections of the population. In the US, more than 900, 000 individuals are affected with the disease, and each year, the incidence rates are about 40, 000. About 20 years back, the pattern of the individuals affected with the disease was different as compared to today. 82 % of all cases were men, and 18 % were women. In the year 2002, more than half the number of cases was African-Americans.
It should be remembered that African-American constitutes about 13 % of the US population. On the other hand, the Hispanics constitute about 14% of the US population and include about 18 % of all HIV positive cases. If you take into consideration the minority population, about three-fourths of all HIV positive cases in the US belong to the African-American or the Hispanic groups. This suggests that the minority population may not be educated properly of a disease, which can be prevented (Robles & Stringer Jr. , 2006, & Cargill & Stone, 2005).
Rationale, Relevance, and Significance of Study – The study has demonstrated that as the target population affected with the disease has changed over the last few decades, so is the mode by which the people have been infected. During the initial period following development of awareness of the disease, the infection was usually transmitted via homosexual contact and IV drug usage. However, today the disease usually spread via heterogeneous sexual contact. The African-American men are usually infected with the homosexual contact mode, whereas women belonging to the same race are infected with the heterosexual mean.
The study also demonstrated that the chances of fatal outcomes were higher in the African-American and other minority communities compared to the Whites. This may be due to several factors including poor medical care, socio-economic issues, behavioral factors, etc. The African-American population in the US has a very poor access to healthcare facilities. The also demonstrate unique cultural beliefs, practices and behavior. HIV/AIDS should also be taken into consideration for this population. The two practices, which should be considered as risky, include injecting drug usage and homosexual contact.
As the African –American population have in the past more often affected with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, etc, in the US, HIV/AIDS can be seen frequently complicating the course of these diseases. These complications suggest the urgency of the problem and the need to solve the problem immediately (Robles & Stringer Jr. , 2006, & Cargill & Stone, 2005). Purpose of the study – The study was conducted to control and manage the high incidences of the disease in the African-American populations compared to others.
There have been several public health measures to reduce the incidence the spread of the disease. However, in the African-American population the spread of the disease is high in spite of the public health measures. This may be due to several factors including socio-economic, educational, gender issues, beliefs, practices and behaviors, etc. The main aim of the entire HIV preventive program should be to ensure that the African-American population are involved in the participation.
The government should show more interest in having programs for the African-American population. Greater participation is needed and this has to be ensured by the community, social workers and the healthcare personnel. The access to healthcare for these populations also needs to be improved. The time period between the use of preventive strategies and the development of a cure or vaccine for the disease is very critical. The public health department should ensure that the disease does not have a negative impact on the African-American populations (Robles & Stringer Jr.
, 2006, & Cargill & Stone, 2005). Research Questions Four – 1. Why are the incidences of HIV/AIDS high in the African-American population 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?
Some of the areas, which require special attention for the African-American population, include having special preventive programs that would bring about a change in the behaviors, ensuring greater access to treatment, ensuring the community is informed about drug abuse and safe sex and adherence to treatment. It is found that individuals who adhere to the treatment suggested have a better outcome than those who do not stick to the treatment guidelines. 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).
It is important that behavioral research and community programs are conducted to ensure that a method to prevent and reduce the incidences of HIV/AIDS is identified. For example it has also been realized that drug abuse may increase the risk of the individual indulging in risky sexual behavior, thus increasing the risk for HIV infection. Social research and modifying the behavior plays a very important role in this regards, especially in the African-American community (Zenilman, 2005). The impact of HIV/AIDS on the African-American population has been severe and needs to be sorted out immediately.
Initially, HIV/AIDS seemed to be a condition affecting homosexual men, but now several factors such as poor socio-economic conditions, drug abuse, poor access to healthcare facilities, etc, have resulted in the African-Americans developing the disease more frequently than other segments of the population. The outcome of the disease is also poor due to poor quality of healthcare provided, lack of insurance, lack of adherence to treatment measures, inequality, discrimination, etc. Besides, neither government nor private organizations have been interested in including the African-American populations in clinical trials.
This may be due to several factors such as bias, attitudes and beliefs towards drug trials lack of exposure to the healthcare system, etc. It is important that the African-American populations be included in clinical trials to ensure that the factors responsible for higher incidences and poor outcomes of the disease be recognized and managed appropriately. During the drug therapy, it is important that the patients adheres to the treatment guidelines and retains treatment as suggested by the physician.
The physician should also be available to ensure that any problem the patient faces with respect to the drug therapy is handled appropriately. ARV therapy for HIV/AIDS is providing better outcomes for the disease with fewer risks and side effects involved. However, the condition of the patient needs to be monitored during drug therapy to ensure that any problems are adequately addressed (Robles & Stringer Jr. , 2006, Karim, 2007, Berg, Michelson & Safren, 2007 & Cargill & Stone, 2005).
References:
Berg, C. J. , Michelson, S. E. , Safren, S. A. (2007).Behavioral Aspects of HIV Care: Adherence, Depression, Substance Use, and HIV-Transmission Behaviors, Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, 21(1). Cargill, V. A. & Stone, V. E. (2005). HIV/AIDS: A Minority Health Issue, Medical Clinics of North America, 89(4). Karim, S. S. (2007). Global Epidemiology of HIV-AIDS, Global Epidemiology of HIV-AIDS, 21(1). Robles, A. M. & Stringer Jr. , H. G. (2006). HIV-AIDS in Minorities, Clinics in Chest Medicine, 27(3). Zenilman, J. M. (2005), Behavioral Interventions—Rationale, Measurement, and Effectiveness, Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, 19(2).