Issues on Access to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing in the United Kingdom - Essay Example

HIV is one of the major health issues afflicting the global population. Its impact on the general population is significant, mostly becauseof the fact that there is no cure for the disease, its impact is devastating to sufferers, and the fact that it can be sexually transmitted from one person to another. HIV testing has become one of the methods for its prevention and management and for black Africans in the UK, its application has not gained widespread coverage. This study will be on black Africans living in the UK and their struggle to get tested. In order to do this, a number of researches carried out on this topic will be drawn upon. These studies indicate that issues on access to HIV testing, stigma associated with AIDS, poverty, socio-cultural considerations are problems which black Africans face in relation to HIV and HIV testing. The fact that HIV health education as well as health services are not readily available to the people also seems to exacerbate the HIV problem in the UK. These studies indicate that there is a need for major changes in the UK to be undertaken in relation to HIV, HIV education, HIV access to health services. Highlighting focus on these areas would help ensure improved health outcomes for the general population, for black Africans, and for HIV sufferers. HIV in the world Discussion The studies above indicate how HIV testing in the UK has been the primary means by which the presence of the disease has been established. Through these tests, a noticeable increase in the cases of HIV/AIDS has been detected (Deblonde, et.al., 2010). These cases also indicate that the Black population is the largest population of HIV sufferers. These cases would however not account for the unreported cases of HIV infection which serve a greater danger to the general population. Moreover, late diagnosis for the disease often implies greater mortality from the disease, as well as a greater risk for the spread of the infection (Deblonde, et.al., 2010). With these issues in HIV testing, the management of the disease has become a greater challenge because the identification of individuals suffering from this disease cannot be clearly established. Furthermore, many cases of undiagnosed and late HIV infections seem to emphasize the need for early testing. Various elements affecting issues in HIV testing can be identified in these aforementioned studies. The studies indicate that there seems to be a low perceived risk among black Africans on HIV infections, for which reason, they do not feel the need to undergo HIV testing at all or on a regular basis (Deblonde, et.al., Burns, 2005. This is a risky perception because it exposes the patients to inaccurate notions on the viability of their health. A low perceived risk on HIV places the effective management of this disease on an uneven plane, opening the society to a higher risk for infection and preventing adequate management of its symptoms (Burns, 2005). As the black Africans do not perceive a risk for HIV infection, they would likely continue to engage in sexual activities without any protection, thereby exposing their sexual partners to the risk of infection. Moreover, where black Africans have a low perceived risk of HIV infection, they would also seek medical attention and HIV testing to a lesser degree. This is often a practice among individuals who do not believe that they are sick and who do not feel the need to undergo regular medical tests. Noticeably, the studies also imply various socio-economic barriers in the access of health and HIV/AIDS services (UNAIDS, 2011). The indeterminate immigration status of these black Africans is a major concern in this population because such status deters them from considering available health services. Supporting new approaches to HIV testing has become a priority in the primary and secondary HIV prevention practices among black Africans groups (Deblonde, et.al., 2010). However, there are often various issues related to black Africans residing in the UK, mostly on co-morbid conditions which they suffer alongside their disease. Most of them also suffer from tuberculosis or pneumonia, as well as other opportunistic infections. In some instances, the onset of the disease may be delayed and when it manifests, it is already in its full-blown stage. These cases are more difficult to treat. All of these elements place much pressure on the development of interventions in relation to early testing. Poor access to the essential services on testing and HIV management is a major issue among black Africans because of the aforementioned problems on residence status in the UK (UNAIDS, 2011). The poor access to the essential services also precludes access to essential information on HIV/AIDS. The primary reason for poor access is poverty. The participants mention that in Africa, the economic conditions are difficult, making access to food and medical services are difficult. Health information is a crucial element in the management of HIV/AIDS. Where the general population and the black African population cannot gain access to the essential services and information they need, they would also not understand the importance of the precautions they need to take, the health options they have, and the services available to them. Most of the participants also declare that religion has a significant impact on their lives. They believe that having the guidance and protection of God would also help them avoid this disease. In large part, most of them credit that their faith in God and in following the teachings of God, they have and they can avoid the disease. Moreover, they also believe that if they would diagnosed with the disease that God’s guidance would help them get through their disease. They also believe that even with all the precautions they would take, only with God’s guidance would they be able to avoid and possibly survive the disease. These respondents indicate the significant role which religion and faith plays in their lives as possible HIV patients. In relation to responsibility and ownership, one participant acknowledged the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions in order to reduce the impact of the HIV epidemic. The participant is not all too enthusiastic about raising awareness on the HIV epidemic, but points out that it is more important for all people to take more responsibility for their actions and that all people are part of the problem and must therefore take part in the solution of this issue. The participants also highlight the importance of the media in health education practices. The respondents express how the media participation in health education on HIV is lacking and more can still be done. Media is also the best tool by which the public can be reached in terms of health education and the various tools of the media, including the radio and the TV must be used in order to read the widest and most diverse audience possible. There are various nuances of HIV testing and management, including cultural, social, and economic considerations which health professionals first need to consider (NATSAL, 2000). Secondly, there are essential details and information of HIV testing and management which they need to master before they engage in its implementation. Moreover, the psychological support needed by patients during the HIV testing process is also an important consideration because it can guide the patients towards the next step of their illness (Flowers, et.al., 2006). Being tested positive for the disease can be a traumatic experience and if improperly handled by the health professionals, can cause resistance among the patients. In the process, these patients may be lost in the treatment process and can rejoin the general population without proper monitoring activities or treatment options. While the studies discuss the importance of HIV testing in HIV management among black Africans in the UK, they also point out that discrimination against HIV positive patients is rampant in the UK (Flowers, et.al., 2006). Such discrimination also interferes in the health promotion practices, including the adoption of HIV testing activities. Such stigma and discrimination prevents people from disclosing their illness and often prevents them from accessing essential health and social care services. It also deters them from applying for work, thereby causing them to be further isolated from society. Studies indicate that the stigma against HIV patients is also founded on racism against black Africans (Flowers, et.al., 2006). The perception on HIV is part of the notion which the general population has against black Africans, African migrants and HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, discrimination also carries over from doctors and other health professionals who often have prejudicial attitudes against their black counterparts, most specifically against those who have HIV. Stigma often triggers feelings of fear among the patients, and such fear often prevents patients from disclosing their disease to their sexual partners, their friends, and their family. Such fear also often causes them to hide their need for social and emotional assistance, thereby, delaying access to medical treatments (Flowers, et.al., 2006). Stigma from the community is often made worse by the limitations in the patient’s social network. The limited networks make it difficult for the patients to access community support groups and social assistance. These are elements which can provide moral and psychological help for patients, especially in coping with the emotional burdens of the disease. Where there is limited emotional and social support among the black Africans, HIV patients tend to withdraw from society (Flowers, et.al., 2006). Moreover, their fear of unintentional disclosure and future discrimination often draws them away from HIV testing. In the end, many of these patients end up keeping their status a secret. Major health risks to the patients and to the rest of society are apparent from this decision. It is also apparent from the studies that black Africans are less likely, as compared to their white counterparts, to disclose their HIV status to their partners, their family and friends (Burns, 2005). The social cost and impact of their disclosure is grave. They are already aware that being black is a source of discrimination against them. Being black and having HIV is even more so. Many of them are unable to cope with the pressure and the burden of their disease. Many of them feel the burden of the disease as well as the burden of society’s stigma against them. Hence, the cost of disclosure is indeed a heavy one (Flowers, et.al., 2006). In the end, in assessing the cost of disclosure, its cost can sometimes be more significant due to the potential loss of the HIV-positive patients from the larger society as well as from their ethnic community. Such losses translate to lost income and a growing burden on the economy and the community in general. The failure of patients and of the general public to understand HIV is one of the major causes of stigma and discrimination. Failure of the people to understand the disease also dictates their reactions and their behaviours in relation to HIV patients (Flowers, et.al., 2006). Such failure causes them to act in discriminatory ways, discriminating HIV sufferers from the community and from the workplace. There is also a preconceived notion among those who do not understand the disease that those who come from Africa, those who are homosexuals, and those who are using drugs also have AIDS (Burns, 2005). Some also believe that HIV is an automatic death sentence. The important information on HIV risks like multiple sexual partners, failure to use contraception, sharing of needles are not given as much importance as other perceptions about HIV. The aforementioned studies indicate how wrong information is being transmitted to the general public and such wrong information is also dictating the patients’ as well as the health professionals’ behaviour and reactions to the disease or the diagnosis of HIV (Flowers, et.al., 2006; Burns, 2005). Based on the results of the interviews, the knowledge that respondents have about HIV needs much support. Most of the respondents are aware that HIV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse and they admit that if they would be diagnosed with the disease, they would likely stop engaging in sexual intercourse with their partners. The need for social support and disclosure is an issue which was mentioned by the respondents. This supports the results from previous studies which mention how reluctance in full disclosure to family and sexual partners can cause problems in the testing and diagnosis of HIV. Issues in full disclosure are based on various elements, mostly on these patients wanting to avoid societal discrimination and stigma. The respondents acknowledge the importance of being informed about HIV and about the precautions they need to observe in order to avoid being afflicted with it. One of the respondents however did not manifest adequate knowledge about HIV and was actually at risk for acquiring it. He was having two sexual partners at the same time and he acknowledged that he was using condoms with only one of his sexual partners. The prevention of HIV is primarily based on the use of condoms and the avoidance of multiple sex partners. The fact that he was having two sexual partners put him at risk of acquiring HIV and not using condoms with one of his sexual partners exacerbated such risk. Considering the promiscuous nature of his sexual encounters, he and his partners must take all the necessary precautions to prevent any risk of infection. The prevention of HIV cannot be left up to the partner’s trust in each other, especially where multiple sexual partners are concerned. The attitude of one of the respondents having multiple sexual partners indicates the major gaps in the knowledge and current information which many people have on HIV/AIDS. The knowledge that people have on the disease does not form a favourable entire preventive picture on HIV. The respondents also express issues with the way authorities handle the distribution of knowledge and how they make health services available to the general population and to the HIV sufferers. As far as the general population is concerned, these respondents express that the health authorities are not doing nearly enough in order to ensure access to correct and adequate information and access to sufficient and essential health services, including HIV testing, diagnosis, and treatment. Conclusion HIV testing among black Africans is a major issue in UK because of the significant barriers in testing and the limited available of information and health services. The studies above indicate how inadequate information on HIV is preventing black Africans from fully understanding their HIV risk and HIV itself. This same inadequacy also places the general population at risk. The essential element of HIV testing is on disclosure to the sexual partner, to the family, and to the peers. However, ensuring such disclosure is a difficult undertaking because of considerations on discrimination, stereotypes, and the stigma which accompanies it. Such stigma makes the HIV sufferers reluctant to reveal their condition to their partners as well as to the health authorities. It also makes them reluctant to seek medical attention and monitoring. Such reluctance however has major negative consequences, mostly in relation to delayed treatment and the risk of spreading the infection. Delays in treatment increase mortality rates and the risk of transmitting the infection also makes it difficult to manage this disease. In effect, based on their background and inherent risks, black Africans have a greater risk of acquiring HIV. They therefore need to consider medical options the soonest time possible in order to prevent exacerbation of their symptoms and to ensure early management of their disease. Read More