Hiv : A Modern Atlantian Epidemic

Unfortunately, the number of HIV infection still lingers and thrives on a global scale and in the US. In Los Angeles, approximately 60,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS, and more than 9000 are unaware of their infection status (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 2015). Even with HAART/PrEP and the availability of condoms, more than 1800 additional HIV cases have been reported in 2013 (LACDPH, 2015). The most striking is the presence of HIV positive youths in Los Angeles. LA County Health estimates that 1700 people between ages 13-24 who have HIV/AID, along with another estimated 350 teens who are HIV positive but do not know their status (LACDPH, 2015). The purpose of this proposal is to

According to recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 1.2 million individuals in the United States have HIV (about 14 percent of which are unaware of their infection and another 1.1 million have progressed to AIDS. Over the past decade, the number of HIV cases in the US has increased, however, the annual number of cases remains stable at about 50, 000 new cases per year. Within these estimates, certain groups tend to carry the burden of these disease, particularly the gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM) and among race/ethnic groups, Blacks/African American males remain disproportionately affected. (CDC)

Human Immunodefiency Virus has become all too common in my hometown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Rapidly this city has taken the number one spot leading the nation cases per capita of 100,000 people, according to Rene Taylor, Executive Director of Family Services of Greater Baton Rouge. (Feb., 2018). Baton Rouge holds its highest HIV cases in the North Baton Rouge area, where African Americas account for 95% of the residents. Studies show that age, poverty and education level is concurrent with most people infected with the virus. Baton Rouge has many organizations and government funded programs for all residents but coherence is proven to be low. Therefore, I posed the question: How do we decrease the HIV percental in Baton Rouge? I suggest we decrease the HIV epidemic in Baton Rouge by first, providing mandatory Education and statistics about the virus. Secondly, promoting

These community’s views changed, when role model individuals like Magic Johnson came forward to declare his HIV status. The society as a whole came to the realization that the disease is an epidemic. The disease has now turn into an epidemic within the African American community, infection rate has gone up twice the amount when compared to other groups, white and Latinos. The United States is the highest fundraiser for HIV/AIDS globally, but the U.S is facing a major ongoing HIV epidemic, the society is less educated, struggled from societal pressure due to stigmatization, health disparities, and poverty. The shame and discrimination continue to hinder people's access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services, driving the cycle of new infections. Social, economic, and legal barriers all contributed to prevention of

But before we discuss ways in reducing HIV stigma, we should talk about what it consists of in Baton Rouge. Stigma can become a chronic stressor that leads to poor coping skills, inadequate self-care, and risky sexual behaviors (Johnson et al. 72). According to an HIV Infrastructure Study conducted by the Southern HIV/AIDS Initiative, they discussed what the HIV stigma consisted of in Baton Rouge. After a few interviews with employees in HIV/AIDS clinics and people living with HIV/AIDS, they stated that one of the main reasons why people refuse to go to a clinic to get HIV tested or delay testing is because they are afraid that people they know might see them getting tested and assume the worst from them (Reif et al. 12). People also don’t want to get tested because they fear the repercussions of getting tested positive for HIV and that their family or loved ones might shun them away if they were HIV-positive. People should not care about who is going to see them getting tested because they are being smart about taking steps in knowing their HIV status instead of waiting to show signs of AIDS infection and then it’ll be too late to get any treatment. Moreover, one study evaluating the HIV Stigma Scale had some key observations. Out of one-hundred and ten HIV-positive African-Americans that were picked for this study, some of the appalling statements they agreed with the most

HIV is a detrimental disease in the African-American community. During the 1980s HIV was on the rise as many people were uneducated about the virus itself and how the virus was contracted. Precious contracted HIV from her mother's boyfriend, which is more difficult to handle when you live in a state of poverty. Precious had limited funds and limited health care options. If an individual contracts HIV in 2016 there are medications that can prolong their life and keep them comfortable unlike the resources available in the 1980s. According to Rao and colleagues, African-Americans face many downfalls with HIV due to difficulty accessing proper care and medication (2016). Rao address that there is a stigma associated with HIV, as well as African-Americans,

HIV is highly prevalent among the United States population, primarily affecting African Americans of all economic levels and age groups. HIV is transmissible through sexual contact and damages the immune system as it interferes with the individual’s capability to fight off any infections or illnesses. Health inequalities that greatly affect the high rates of HIV include but are not limited to: higher rates of poverty, lack of awareness, intercourse within the same sex, having anxiety towards getting tested for STD’s or HIV, as well as being fearful of “coming out”. Local, state, and nationwide organizations are designed to inform and provide assistance to those who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. S.A.A.F. (Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation)

A prevalent issue in the Orangeburg community is the steadily increasing rate of the human immunodeficiency virus, which is known as the HIV. The HIV epidemic has been an imperative issue on the campuses of SC State and Claflin University, but this issue is expanding. Many students who are infected by this disease do not know they have it, or the consequences behind HIV. Unfortunately, others intentionally spread this epidemic to others despite the consequences that occur with it. According to SCDHEC, black males are leading the epidemic with a rate of 592.1 while black females lead with a rate of 249.2 (SCDHEC 39). The issue of HIV is primarily in the African American community and it’s tearing down the community. Although the rapid spread

The battle against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Defiance Syndrome (AIDS) has been devastating, underestimated, and complex. In America, this difficulty surrounding HIV/AIDS is due to the inability of the state to properly educate and protect its citizens from being exposed to this illness. Since the first detection of HIV and AIDS the government aided in the miseducation, stereotypes, and deaths of its citizens by not taking the proper protocols to protect its people. Originally, United States’ government allowed its citizens to believe that HIV and AIDS were strictly related to homosexual relationships. As a result of this misguidance, homophobia increased nationally; thus, shunning the gay community and making it

The state of Georgia is still ranked high for the many HIV/AIDS reported cases.  HIV?AIDS affected gays, teenager and especially African-American women because little is known about family planning. Even though HIV is not considered the primary cause of death for Americans, it is considered the leading cause of death for particular age groups.  The HIV/AIDS budget has decrease and many services had been reduced. Many programs and organization in Georgia like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are developing ways to minimize the spread of this disease, with a requirement of a new approach on prevention, treatments, testing and education those living with HIV often. Not many people living with HIV know the knowledge of transmission

In the 1980's the HIV/AIDS epidemic devastated many communities, growing panic over the incurable disease that many people were dying from. In the past, there wasn't a lot of information on how HIV/AIDS was contracted or spread, and thus the epidemic instilled much fear over fatal sexually transmitted diseases. In today’s times I fear that our communities have become distance from HIV/AIDS and other STDs because of large advancements in modern medicine the United States have been able to achieve. Americans don’t seem as worried as they once where about contracting devastating STDs and this is a luxury other areas of the world don’t have. I am aware that in sub-Saharan Africa there are millions of people who are living with HIV, and although more and more adults and children are reported to die each year from this devastating illness (nearly one million in Africa alone) the population grows still, estimating to grow into the millions by 2050( Population Reference Bureau, 2013). This Illness is so disheartening to hear about as it can even be passed down to the infected individual’s children.

AID Atlanta is a non-profit organization striving to help provide HIV/AIDS services, care, and education in the highest ranked city in the United States. AID Atlanta host multiple events and free help all year round, yet, people constantly ignore the facts and seek help or assurance of their status. Many donate money and support their events such as the 5k yearly AID walk but do not think they can be effective by HIV/AIDS because they are not the stereotypical image of someone who would have AIDS. This stereotyped image of someone whom status is positive is gay Caucasian males that are in their mid-thirties of higher.

The rate of new infections has been relatively stable each year, but 20% of people are unaware they are infected with HIV 3. This greatly increases the risk of HIV transmission with 50% of new HIV cases resulting from those who are unaware of their status 13. At risk populations include Latinos, Blacks, and MSM with 44% of new cases occurring in Blacks and 75% in men 14. With the establishment of the goals for 2020, the White House released a National HIV/AIDS strategy focusing on reducing the number of new cases, increasing access and improving outcomes for HIV positive people, and reducing the disparity in infection 4. The United States healthcare system is based on reactive medicine and the adoption of Cuba’s HIV/AIDS prevention programs would be a necessary step for addressing the epidemic in our

RARE project was designed to provide highly affected communities like Detroit “with a tool that would quickly identify conditions that fuel new infections and serve as barriers to HIV-positive individuals getting HIV testing, care, and treatment” (Bates, 2007). The focus in Detroit were African Americans engaged in high risk sexual behaviors. This national project has its political and social challenges so it has little impact on Detroit’s prevention efforts. Though, the U. S. Health Care System has expanded the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance for people living with HIV, poor African Americans in Detroit cannot afford the ACA premiums, deductibles and co-pays (Heywood, 2015). In addition, the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) has been conducting town hall meetings titled “Turning the Tide Together” in cities like Detroit hit the hardest by HIV/AIDS (Heywood, 2012). These meetings in the cities considered as “hot spots” for HIV bring community leaders, policy makers and public health experts to develop an action plan to fight the disease. But local

The HIV belongs to the genus Lentivirus and the family Retroviridae. The members of the genus Lentivirus have different morphology and associate biological properties common for all. These viruses also infect and affect many species of the animal kingdom; the most affected being the human species. However, in the structures, the HIV has a relatively different structure from the other retroviruses. The HIV causing virus has a roughly spherical structure with a diameter of approximately 120 nm and around 60 times smaller than a red blood cell (Lowe 8). However, it is larger than the general structure of a virus. The