On busy street in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska there is a small, light brown building that says “Law Offices” in large letters on the front. This building houses NAP, or the Nebraska Aids Project; the only aids service program in the entire state. The Nebraska Aids project is vital to Nebraska’s population in general, more specifically however it is crucial to young men of color who have sex with men (MSM), a broad term just to describe people of varying sexualities; the term young in this instance refers to those twenty-five years of age or younger.
Statistically, black and Latino men are at the highest risk for contracting HIV in the United States. While black people represent only 12% of the U.S population, they make up 44% of people living with HIV. Similarly, Latinos are only 16% of the population and yet 21% of people with HIV are Latino. Because of this staggering disparity the Nebraska Aids Project specifically aims to help these groups; though some of their services are available to the general public and some are more explicitly for those living with HIV. One of the most important services NAP provides is the free HIV testing program. This program provides completely free testing for HIV that can be done either confidentially or anonymously. Nebraska is one of the only states left that allows anonymous testing and while there are some downsides to it, such as the inability to ensure proper health care for those who test positive, it encourages more people to get
In Pennsylvania, a plaintiff claiming negligent infliction of emotional distress must establish one of these four situations: “1) that the defendant had a contractual or fiduciary duty; 2) plaintiff suffered a physical impact; 3) plaintiff was in a “zone of danger” and at risk of an immediate physical injury; or 4) plaintiff had a contemporaneous perception of tortious injury to a close relative.” Doe v. Phila. Cmty. Health Alternatives AIDS Task Force, 754 A.2d 25, 27 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2000). The first element does not apply to our client because there was no fiduciary or contractual duty relationship. Secondly, it could be argued that Nordlund suffered a physical impact because after Sumner’s accident, Nordlund could not eat, could not
Due to gaps in policy oversight, the percentage of minorities living with HIV and AIDS in the United States remains high. It has remained high due in part to policies that were implemented during the early 90’s, emblematically The Ryan White Care Act, along with in policy makers for their failure to recognize the special needs and factors that pertain to minority groups, specifically African Americans and Non-white Hispanics. The racial disparities that have historically plagued these minority groups were initially overlooked in the policy making and implementation process. In turn, it is no disheartening wonder that certain figures and data are now representative of the minority demographic; example:
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
Department of Health & Human Services the group of people who are disproportionately affected by HIV are African Americans Gay and Bisexual Men. From 2005 to 2014, diagnoses increased 22% among all African Americans Gay and bisexual men and 87% among young African Americans and gay and bisexual men. By the end of 2013, an approximation of 493,543 gay and bisexual men were living with the HIV infection. Of those, 152,303 (31%) were African American, 210,299 (43%) were white, and 104,529 (21%) were Hispanic/Latino (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2016). Socioeconomic factors limited access to quality health care, lower income and educational levels, and higher rates of unemployment and incarceration may place some African American gay and bisexual men at higher risk for HIV than men of some other races/ethnicities.
Did you know straight black men enjoy having sex with other straight black men, but do not consider themselves anything but heterosexual males? In today’s world, even “back in the day”, which can be considered before 2004 when this tell-all novel, On the Downlow: A Journey Into the Lives of Straight Black Men Who Sleep With Men by J.L. King, Karen Hunter and E. Lynn Harris was written, takes the reader on an actual journey into a world someone would least expect. With everyone we have in our life, our neighbors, close family, distant family, friends, and strangers we see everyday, we still do not know some of the most soul defining things about them. As society grows into this new world of acceptance, friends are bound to share their interests with others they know that are not interested in the subject, but also knowing they will still be accepted. It took until 2016, to finally legalize gay marriage, yet there are still the many people who are completely disgusted with it. And to think just 60 short years ago the KKK was still a popular thing. The point being, in the 80s-90s, around the time of most of the occurrences in this novel, a straight black male is not going to broadcast about his sexual encounters with other men as freely as it could potentially be. Thus, being the biggest issue for the spread of HIV in the country.
Hispanic and Latinos have been the nation's fastest-growing ethnic population in the past several decades. HIV diagnoses in Latino and Hispanic populations have been rising in the past decades. In 2011, Latinos and Hispanics represented 17% of the total population in the US, but however, they also accounted for 21% of the estimated adults diagnosed with HIV infections in the United States. In fact, in 1985, Latinos were at 15% of all diagnosed HIV cases and in 2010, it increased to 22% in the U.S. National Latinos AIDS Awareness day is observed each year to increase awareness of that impact of HIV on the Hispanic and Latino population. The recent slogan—To End ADS Commit Act—was chosen to mobilize Hispanics to commit ending HIV in their communities.
There were many Black males from the ages 18+ that were taking the information and were easy to communicate with. Based on what my group did the majority of the bags we gave out was to Black males. When it came to testing, I noticed that the majority that got tested were Black women even with incentives being given. This told me that there are many men having sex, but not many who know their status. That being my opinion, and not a fact based on my observation. Based on what I observed women are more likely to get tested and take care of their health than men.
The prevalence of HIV in the African American community is unmatched by any other population. African Americans accounted for 49% of all HIV related deaths in 2010 (CDC, 2014). In my specialty area of family practice, I have encountered only one non-minority patient with HIV; all others have been African-American. This population needs to be of high consideration for disease education. African Americans are typically unaware of resources available to prevent the transmission of this disease, as well as testing available to them in their communities. African American children, especially, are at greater risk for HIV due to lack of knowledge and earlier age of engaging in sexual intercourse. They are typically unaware that their behavior can yield such a negative outcome (CDC, 2012). Many urban schools lack proper funding to accommodate a sexual education curriculum. It is of increased importance to raise awareness, educate and provide a plan of care for the African American teenage and adult population, as the incidence of this disease rises daily.
Various studies show evidence that link the relationship between social determinants of health and the risk for HIV. Interrelated social determinants of health can create a context of vulnerability and risk for HIV. It is very important to be able to recognize the interrelation components of HIV risk in order determine the HIV prevention response that is the most effective. For instance, research shows that HIV rates are significantly higher in Black men who have sex with men (MSM) than for MSM of other races. These rates, which are very disproportionate, are not attributable to a higher frequency of sexual risk behaviors. To appropriately address risk for MSM of different races, it is imperative to understand the process of disease transmission among these populations, in other words, the social determinants of health that are involved, such as access to healthcare (CHLA, 2012).
How beneficial is having knowledge about the down low? Not enough of our society is informed of how detrimental or costly this “lifestyle” is or can be. Surprisingly, the risk factors include an association with sexually transmitted diseases most notably HIV/AIDS. According to Lisa Bond, “the down low has been used to describe black men who identify as heterosexual yet put their female partners at risk for HIV infection by secretly engaging in homosexual sex”. Whether or not we conclude that black men are in fact "prime agents" for spreading HIV, popular press feel obliged to associate HIV/AIDS and black down low men thus asserting that their lifestyle could possibly be why the disease started and is still growing. Therefore, this research paper is to spark whether "down low" black men contribute to the continuous spread of HIV/AIDS. Without understanding the background of the down low lifestyle, writers popularize negative associations with it. Furthermore, I plan to briefly identify and define what is the down low and what allegedly provokes men to engage in it. And because the public media and writers have continuously pointed fingers at black men who only participate in this lifestyle, I also plan to expand my research to reject that only black men are on the down low.
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)
Many people are unaware of their health status further increasing transmission of disease in young adult African American(AA) women age 18-24. Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) infects and also destroy blood cells (i.e. lymphocytes) that the body need to fight off infection (Mays 2011). African American women HIV positive, age 18-24 the magnitude of issue of the health disparity in this particular population will be addressed along with the many factors of social and health determinants. The health concern is towards the increase of transmission among young AA mothers and their children who are the health outcomes in many ways than one. The many social and health determinants that affect the women today are on going cycles that have yet to be broken. African American women make 64% of new infection cases for HIV. African american obtain a vulnerability unlike other minorities. The health population’s culture and stigma has played an important role in the community. The concern for AA women is the increase of new cases and most importantly the spread of the disease to these women’s children. The mortality rate of AA women with HIV is 47.1% as of 2012. (Siddiqi 2015)
Maya A. Corneille, Raymond H. Tademy, Mitchelle C. Reid, Faye Z. Belgrave and Aashir Nasim were the authors of the article. They obtained admirable educational backgrounds, and withhold outstanding credentials. In addition, A. Nasim, M. Corneille, and F. Belgrave have their Ph.D. which determines their experienced backgrounds, which includes them writing over 28 articles. R.H Tademy and M.C Reid are much less experience in result of 9 other published article. When I reviewed the authors, I realized that they share a common interest of study; which is implementing health promotion among African American adolescents and young adults. Their commitment to organizing the development of HIV prevention programs and sexual safety motives among young adults exemplified compassion and care. I also noticed that the authors remain active throughout the community by serving as a member of many organizations and agencies that has helped raise funds for health promotion.
56% of those studied were white, 47% only engaged in homosexual sex, 26% had a history of intravenous drug use, 21% were heterosexual, and 3% participated in both homosexual sex and use of intravenous drugs. There was a focus on making sure that participant gender, race, and HIV transmission category were reflective of the HIV epidemic in Rhode Island and Massachusetts at the time of the study.
According to the Center for Young Women’s Health 25 percent of Americans between ages 15 and 55 will catch at least one STI. It is believed that STIs are more significant among teens and young adults, more than half of STI cases are caught by people under the age of 25. Young people are more likely to take more risks and have sex with more partners (“Sexually Transmitted Infections”, 2015). These numbers are high and without a solution being implemented has the potential to get a lot worse. STI’s or Sexually Transmitted Infections can be Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, Herpes, HIV/AIDS, HPV, Scabies, and Syphilis to name a few. In recent years the HIV/AIDS rates on Historically Black Collegiate Universities have been on a rapid increase because it runs so ramped throughout the African American community. The United States National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health state in their journal that during the years of 2001 to 2005, African Americans accounted for the largest percentage of new cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in all age categories, especially among people aged 13 to 24 years (Public Health Rep, 2008).