1. Describe two determinants of the disease/health condition discussed in the article (2 points)
Two main determinants of health in this article are behaviors of the community and socioeconomic status of the community. The behaviors include injection drug use and needles because theses actions bring about a change in health for the user (Friis & Sellers, 2014). Many drug users were sharing needles spreading diseases such as AIDS and causing the largest HIV outbreak that Indiana had ever experienced (Harper, 2015). Another determinant would be the socioeconomic status of the population at risk. A poor socioeconomic status is a social determinant of their disease because it gave them fewer options with less accessibility to health care and
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The populations under surveillance are those that are using injection drugs and needles and those that have tested HIV positive due to drug use. This is a great way to track the users and to follow up to make sure that the users are coming back each week to exchange their needles. If users stop coming in for exchanges, the public health nurses can follow up with those individuals. The article did not go into great detail with statistics or if they collected data from any systematic collections within the population. It would be interesting to see real data for systematic reviews of the program to see if the number of HIV infected individuals is staying the same and not increasing. This would show proof that the needle exchange program is working.
3. List and describe how at least two of the seven uses of epidemiology are applicable to the public health topic(s) presented in the story. (2 points)
Of the seven uses of epidemiology, the following are applicable to the public health topic presented in the needle exchange story: diagnosing the health of the community, studying the working of health services, and estimating the individual risks of disease. By diagnosing the health of the community, the needle exchange program is able to measure the incidence and prevalence of disease, as well as identify the groups that they will be working with (Friis & Sellers, 2014). Harper (2015) reported that the needle exchange program is part of an
Moreover, NEPs will provide sterile needle and syringes to avoid exchanges of used injections between drug users. Since NEPs are implemented, the number of HIV cases and other diseases are declined. In Saskatchewan, distributing needles reduces the total costs for health care because needle exchange programs reduce the transmission of HIV by one-third and accommodate a return of four thousand dollars investment in health care costs. (Thompson) Needle exchange program provide safety not only in drug addicts but also provide safety in the community. Many of needle exchange programs perform a one-for-one basis to decrease the exposure of contaminated needles in streets and playgrounds so that children and other people are away from needle sticks accident. (Franciscus)
Several studies have shown that injection drug users lower their risk of transmitting infectious diseases when there is a needle exchange program available. There has not been a valid study of whether or not the amounts of time needles are returned to the exchange programs are harmful to communities. The Journal of Public Health, conducted surveys, evidence from needle exchange sites, jails, and institutions that needle exchange programs are effective in reducing illnesses such as HIV and AIDS (Burt & Theide, 2016). Furthermore, Reepalu, Blome, Bjork, Widell, & Bjorkman (2012), researched the same individuals for 20 years, with no breaks. Their studies concluded that injection drug use, not only heightens the risk for HIV and AID’s, there is also an increase in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. However, there studies showed that there is not an increase rate of cancer diagnoses due to injection drug use. In a study conducted by Bonar and Rosenberg (2014), they wanted to see if self-initiated harm strategies, such as: proper needle sterilization techniques, proper disposal of needles, and cleaning of the pre injected skin, could help improve the health of those that use drugs intravenously. Their study was conducted over an eight-month period, results showed that their
Illnesses, epidemics, and pandemics derive from the living conditions and the social stratification of a society. Poverty tends to increase an individual’s possibility of getting sick due to deficient housing conditions, malnutrition, pressure, etc. Research supports that impoverished individuals experience higher death rates due to the insufficient medical care and nutritious food available to them. “An estimated 25 million Americans do not have enough money to feed themselves adequately and, as a result, suffer from serious nutritional deficiencies that can lead to illness and death” (Tischler 383). In effect, this contributes to the overall high mortality rates among groups of social classes. Those that live in poverty experience high levels
These disparities are obvious in some key measures of wellbeing including life expectancy, the risk for disease, and access to health care (Disparities in Health, 2015). Historically, the major factors contributing to shorter longevity and high rates of disease are overcrowding, poor sanitation and low availability of treatment facilities. However, the change of theses socioeconomic
Socioeconomic status and gender is considered a cause of racial disparities in health since it constrains access to power, social and psychological resources, and economic capital. Those with low socioeconomic status and in segregated areas have less access to quality elementary and high school education since they normally have less qualified teachers, lower test scores, and fewer connections to colleges. These individuals also experience less employment opportunities because employers discriminate based on the residence of the job applicants since they view individuals in low-income areas as being drug users, having poor communication skills, low reading levels, and family issues. This leaves the residents in racially segregated neighborhoods jobless so they cannot increase their socioeconomic status (Takeuchi et al. 2010). The state of poverty is likely to continue for these individuals because they do not possess the necessary means to reduce their
One controversial topic is giving out clean needles to heroin addicts through needle exchange programs. This essay will explain why needle exchange programs are beneficial to society. Needle exchange programs have become a controversial topic because one argument states that it starts more drug use and makes the community worse, and one states that it benefits the community and reduces diseases. We should morally fund needle exchange programs, even if people don't utilize them correctly, because many people can change their lives for the good.
Epidemiology is the study of diseases and informs the public about the health epidemics and new standards put in place. They usually work in laboratories, businesses, and offices where they work on discovering many diseases and conducting research while also finding cures to new diseases. In order to become an epidemiologist, I will have undergo through 4 year as an undergraduate and obtain a Masters in Biology or Public Health. In high school, it is recommended for me take Biology, Chemistry or to have some type of science background in order to help me get best prepared. In this paper I will discuss the history of epidemiology, the pathway to get to this career, and why this job/career will be the best fit for me.
Opioid abuse, cardiometabolic diseases, and diseases of lifestyle and social fabric are few of the health problems that are predominant in the southeast region of the country. Tennessee is in the lowest 25th quartile in the overall health performance among the low-income population in the southeast region. Hence, there is a need to address specifically, socioeconomic determinants in tackling these problems. These socioeconomic determinants are usually referred to as the causes of the causes of the diseases.
America has been fighting a long war with drugs and the many diseases that are spread due to drug habits and dirty needles. Many people believe that the cure to solving this widespread epidemic is The Clean Needle Exchange program; this is a program that offers clean needles to drug abusers and also counseling to reduce the need for drugs. Though there are definitely benefits to the program it does not come without pitfalls, the programs have received a great deal of controversy because some people view it as drug promoting and supporting. The program is also funded by taxpayers which has sparked a lot of criticism and created the ban on needle exchange
Vancouver is a city with multiple “claims to fame”. Known to be one of the worlds most livable, expensive, and beautiful cities, it is also well known for its large population of drug users, and the detrimental effects intravenous drugs have had on the Downtown East Side community. One of the major concerns connected to intravenous drug use is the large proportion of users who report a history of needle sharing, greatly increasing their chances of contracting HIV, Hepatitis B or C, and other injection related infections (Strike, Myers & Millson, 2004). With an estimated 15000 intravenous drug users (IDUs) currently residing in Vancouver, and up to an estimated 125000 nationally, the Canadian government has taken a proactive “Harm Reduction” stance allowing the implementation of controversial Needle Exchange Programs (NEPs) throughout most of the country (Weekes & Cumberland). Canada’s first NEP opened in Toronto in 1987, with Vancouver following suit in 1989. While it was still considered an offence to possess drugs under the Canadian Criminal Code, section S.462.2 stated that it was “not an offence […] to distribute needles to prevent the spread of HIV infection” (Weekes & Cumberland). The goal of these early NEPs was to supply IDUs with injection equipment to eliminate the necessity for needle sharing between users, operating on a strict “one for one” model. For each used needle returned, it would be replaced with a new, sterile
A needle exchange program instituted in Washington, DC, prevented 120 new cases of HIV infection and saved $44 million as a result, in just two years.
In the film we saw that from blood transfusion in hemophiliacs, people could be infected by HIV, so using needles that go into your veins will do the same too. We have proven that further when people were infected with HIV during pox vaccination because they were using the same needle .40% of new HIV infection comes from IV drug users in the United States, the film showed us a couple more places where people were infected with HIV as well, for example Thailand, Russia and Africa. Therefore in places like Britain where it is populated needle exchange programs were created and administered to people, which immediately declined the number of people getting AIDS through IV drug use. In America, it didn’t work as well because the people were not getting federal funding and that the needle
Determinants of health can be both social and physical factors that can either help avoid or put one at increased risk for development of a disease such as varicella. Some examples of social determinants of health can be quality of education, public safety, language barriers, culture, social support and socioeconomic conditions (Healthy People, 2013). These determinants can negatively impact the community, for instance if the population of focus is one of poverty level with low rates of quality education, and high incidence of crime this can make it difficult to obtain
A major epidemic across the world is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Accredited with 10% of the HIV cases annually is injection drug use (AIDS.gov, 2014). A study done in 2010 showed that injection drug use affected nearly 47,500 new HIV infections in the United States. With 625 being males and 38% being female. Breaking it down even further, African Americans made up 50% of the newly affecting using injection drugs, Whites 26%, and Latinos/ Hispanics with 21% (CDC.gov, 2015). Injection drug use can spread the HIV virus by any of the following acts: using blood-contaminated syringes to prepare drugs, reusing water, reusing bottle caps, spoons, or other containers ("cookers") to
An economic effect low income families face is not affording health-care. According to the Health Affairs research article by Nancy E. Alder and Katherine Newman, social class or socioeconomic status is “linked to a wide range of health problems, including low birthweight, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.” Not only are low income families unable to afford health care but they are at a higher risk of acquiring a health problem. Some of the causes of high health problems in low income families are due to the use of tobacco, toxic agents, lack of activity and diet (Alder and Newman). The determinant factor of this cause is families standing social class. Low income families are unaware of the risk factors,