Why Should We Get Tested For Hiv?

HIV has affected people all across the world. HIV comes with physical and mental symptoms. The body symptoms include skin flaking off, being dry, skin peeling off (Saliba 23) , fingernails falling off (32), and weight loss (14). Mentally it is hard to sleep, people become weak, and are tired all the time (23). People all across the world are infected with this disease, and the problem with this is the fact that most do not even know they have it. The most people who are infected each year are African Americans, gays, or bisexuals. 10,315 African Americans were infected in 2015. The U.S.A. has estimated about 1.1 million are infected with the disease. Equally to about 12,333 deaths happened in 2014 from AIDS related diseases, and 6,721 deaths from AIDS directly. Although there are a large amount of people getting infected, on the other hand eighteen percent of the population with HIV is declining since 2008-2014 (“U.S. Statistics”). In the world about 33.2 million people worldwide have HIV, with 22.5 million people in sub Saharan Africa are living with this condition, one out of nine people who live in South America have HIV or AIDS (Saliba 8).

According to estimates and numbers provided by the CDC, about one and a half million people 13 years of age and younger is HIV positive. Demographics also show that almost 20% of people who are infected do not know they have the virus. The CDC estimates that now every year, there are about 50,000 new cases diagnosed (2013). At risk groups include gay men, bisexual people, and African Americans (CDC, 2013). Young African American males are at greatest risk for contracting HIV among various ethnicities and races (CDC, 2013).

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

HIV is communicable disease that is caused by virus. This particular virus attacks the immune system which means people who suffer from HIV find it more difficult to fight of infection than the average person who does not suffer from HIV. This disease can be transmitted by direct contact, generally it is transferred by sexual contact between partners in fact 95% of those who suffer from HIV are contracted it this way. It can also be contracted by using dirty needles or any other contaminated tool. It can also be contracted by sharing sexual toys. HIV is commonly found in a person’s bodily fluids this means it is spread through, Sperm, vaginal and even anal fluids, breast milk and blood are also common.

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)

According to the CDC, about 18 % of those infected with HIV in the United States are unaware of their infection. An estimate of 1,000 young people ages 13 to 24 are newly infected with HIV each month. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids such as semen, blood, breast milk, and vaginal fluids. These fluids can come in contact between people in a variety of ways, including having unprotected sex (oral, vaginal, or anal); HIV can also be passed from mother to child during childbirth. Mother to child transmission is now rare in the US and other developed countries because pregnant women who are HIV-positive are normally given medications to prevent the fetus from getting infected. However, it is possible for an HIV-infected mother to

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)

HIV testing is the first critical step to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States, and CDC recommends that all Americans aged 13-64 get tested at least once for HIV as a routine part of medical care, and that gay and bisexual men and others at high risk get tested at least once a year. Almost all studies found recommended HIV testing and counseling (HTC) as the first step in linkage to HIV care as this is the only way to identify undiagnosed clients that may be unknowingly transmitting the virus to others.

Testing to see if you have been infected with HIV is easy. There is a rapid HIV test available where they use a blood sample to look for antibodies to HIV. This test takes about twenty minutes if positive follow up testing in necessary (Cdc.gov, 2014).

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

According to the CDC (2015), more than one million people are living with HIV in the United States, and more than 50,000 become newly infected each year. Unfortunately, one in five Americans living with HIV are unaware of their infection. I believe using the strategy which stresses the use of the 10 essential services of public health will help reduce the incidence of HIV in our

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a global issue that is classified as a pandemic by the CDC and WHO, however an epidemic is on the rise at an alarming rate in Atlanta, Georgia. This cluster in downtown Atlanta is being contributed to several factors, including poverty, a greater percentage of African-American residents and behaviors that increase the risk of HIV, including unsafe gay sex and injection drug use. Approximately half of newly diagnosed HIV patients in Atlanta have unknowingly progressed to full-blown AIDS, according to testing conducted by Grady Hospital (Archer, 2015). A disquieting amount of those patients, approximately 8%, reside within the same 30303 zip code as the hospital itself (Archer, 2015). According to the CDC more than 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV infection, and almost 1 in 8 (12.8%) are unaware of their infection with Atlanta’s HIV positive rate ranking fifth highest in the nation (CDC, HIV in the United States: At A Glance, 2015).While the words HIV and AIDS are still considered taboo with a significant stigma attached, this incurable disease is treatable and with early testing available and prevention combine with transmission education can increase an individual’s overall life expectancy and quality of life.

To do that, the first thing to do is to try to prevent the disease from spreading by encouraging people to get tested at least once in their lives if they are low risk and yearly if they are high risk (CDC, 2018). In addition, if they suspect they might be infected with the virus, they should get tested right away. Furthermore, it’s essential for them to know that HIV diagnosis is confidential and by law, you cannot share any of their information without their permission. Many places offer free HIV testing as a preventive part to detect early HIV infection, thus starting early treatment to prevent the spread of HIV. Secondly, HIV education is an essential tool to stop the spread of the disease. Persistent instruction about HIV contamination gives patients HIV disease and their relatives with a more precise comprehension of the disease process, treatment alternatives, self-care, and the most effective method to take an interest in settling on choices identified with treatment and clinical care (Engelke and Schub, 2017). Nationwide, nurse practitioners should focus on educating homosexual and Latinos men about the importance of getting tested at least yearly. In Palm Beach County, since most individuals affected by HIV is heterosexual and African American, and older people, the emphasis should be on these targets. We should encourage them to see their primary care provider at least once a year and

One of the biggest reasons why people do not get tested for HIV is because they are scared. They are scared about HIV, taking a test, what it means to be positive, and what other people will think, all these are justifiable. I believe it is always a good idea to get tested, it is normal to worry but testing for HIV will be the only to know if you have HIV. Another reason why I believe people do not get tested is because there are a lot of myths and misconceptions around HIV and how it is transmitted. HIV is not only transmitted by having sex, it can also be transmitted through broken skin, wounds, and blood-contaminated body fluids. As I said before, it’s always a good idea to get tested, even if it’s just to stop you from worrying.

Most of them do not know they carry HIV and may be spreading the virus to others. Here in the U.S., nearly one million people have HIV infection or AIDS, or roughly one out of every 250 people. At least 40,000 Americans become newly infected with HIV each year, and it is estimated that half of all people with HIV in the U.S. have not been tested and do not know they are carrying the virus.