The Impact of HIV Positive Diagnosis on Women in South Africa - Literature review Example

HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of greater demographic diversity, affecting persons across ages, sexes, and races, and involving varied transmission risk behaviours. Authorities of World Health Organization (WHO) bared that about 50,000 new HIV infected persons are added annually to current statistics and about one-fifth of these newly infected persons are apparently not knowledgeable of Table. HIV and AIDs statistics of World Health Organization in 2010. (WHO, 2010, p. 1). this while others may have knowledge but are not availing immediate healthcare for medication. Problems and hindrances of locating and providing them medical support for effective diagnosis and receipt of HIV care vary in demographic situation of the country. HIV epidemiology There are now 34 million of people infected with HIV on earth. As of 2010, study bared that adult and children living with HIV around the world reached at an average of 34,000,000; children aging 0-14 years old living with age has an alarming figure of 3,400,000; newly infected adults and children are at 2,700,000; and newly HIV-infected children are at 390,000. The prevalence percentile rate among adults is 0.8% and the HIV-related death has reached the record of 1,800,000 of which 250,000 are children. WHO (2013) experts bared that if data are segregated by gender, 50% of these reported cases is proportionately women aged 15 years and older. A global description of this helath risk can be viewed in an inforgraphic provided WHO and UNICEF based on the same quantitaive result of this study. Table 2. Figures of estimated adults and children living with HIV (WHO, 2010). While studies showed that there is a dramatic decrease of women infected with HIV in the last five years, i.e. from 2005 to 2010, but data maintained that the women sector in the countries of Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, and the United Republic of Tanzania revealed that greater percentile of women are infected than men. This is depicted in the table below: Table. Percentile of women and men positive of HIV following test result from 2003-2010 (WHO, UNAIDS & UNIcef, 2010, p. 8). Table. Sustained antiretroviral medication has been provided in the last eight years by WHO and its partners and the blueprint on how this health risk be remedied at a global scale is underway to include the medication to prevent transmission of HIV disease from mother to children. Global health leaders targeted to reduce by 90% HIV infection to children, reduce women infection by 50%, increase the family planning support for healthcare, reduce death incidence caused by HIV disease, and increased provision of antiretroviral medication of pregnant and lactating women to sustain life (WHO et al., 2010, p. ) This is presented in a figure depicted in a Table below. Table. Monitoring framework of world health leaders toward the elimination of HIV infection among children by 2015 (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 16). Studies further bared that the major countries that needs full medical and healthcare attention are in the countries of Nigeria (29%), Congo (7%), Uganda (7%), Malawi (6%), Kenya (6%), Mozambique (6% ), India (6% ), Tanzania (5% ), Zimbabwe (3% ), Ethiopia (2% ), other countries that contributed less than 2% of global gap (13%), and still other emerging nations that have documented HIV cases among its populace (10%)(WHO, 2010, p. 23). Table. Identified countries with largest contribution to global gap to reach a 90% reduction of mother-to-child HIV disease transmission and are in need of antiretroviral therapy (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 23). Health experts explicated that the illness has victimized almost 70 million people at a global scale of HIV virus and about 35 million have mortality caused blamed on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 1). Last year, 2011, there is an average of 34.0 million [31.4–35.9 million] people around the world living with HIV and the Sub-Saharan Africa sustained this situation of being the severely affected region with a ratio of 20:1 adults ( or 4.9%) infected with HIV(WHO, et al, 2010, p. 1). Their figure accounts to 69% of the HIV-infected persons worldwide (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 1). In United Kingdom, HIV is also among the most relevant communicable disease in UK that contribute to health morbidity, expensive healthcare, and mortality. Hospitals and private medical practitioners have high cost of treatment. It has also caused psychological impact to those who are bearing this illness because of its stigmatizing effect hence, feigned others to seek for medical support for fear of social alienation. Like other countries, antiretroviral therapies remained the government’s alternative to reduce HIV cases in UK. In UK, the NHS At the end of 2010, an estimated 91,500 people in the UK were living with HIV. Of these, around one in four (22,000 in total) did not know they were infected. That figure included an estimated 40,100 gay men, and an estimated 47,000 heterosexual men and women of which 24% (19%-28%) persons living with HIV are not aware of their infection since 2011. In 2011, about 6,280 people were medically found positive of HIV albeit that declined by 21% compared to 2005 data. Medical experts opined that HIV transmission is still high with half of the 2,990 heterosexual men and women diagnosed in 2011 within UK only. Prevalent of HIV cases is also observed higher in London, the capital of the UK. Only 73,660 HIV- positive persons availed of health care in 2011 or an estimated figure of 58% of the total number of persons documented with HIV. There are also about 88% of people that are able to undertake treatment for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2011. In African American communities, males carry the greatest burden of new HIV infection based on reports since 2006 worldwide (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 1). There is a rate of HIV- infection for all black males in 22 states at a ratio of 100,000:115.7 population worldwide (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 1). This was 6 times greater to the HIV-infected white American males at a ratio of 100,000: 19.6 population; more than twice the compared to Hispanic males at 100,000: 43.1 HIV-infected population; and, more that the rate for black females at 100,000: 55.7 HIV-infected population worldwide (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 1). Findings that same year also bared that black females are also severely and disproportionately affected by HIV infection with 55.7 females infected in100,000 populace worldwide (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 1). The figure is comparatively higher than white females at a ratio of 3.8 per 100,000 population) and still higher than the rate for Hispanic women infected with HIV at 14.4 per 100,000 population worldwide (WHO, et al, 2010, p. 1). Inequities on HIV-infected communities and impact The HIV epidemic, as a major public health issue, has direct impact to the economic activities of the persons affected and on the regions where this disease is considered as prevalent (2020horizon.com , 2012, p. 1) . It has also impact of the migration concern because of its fast transmission effects, especially to those who are unable to benefit from the life-saving antiretroviral treatments, either because their infection is not known to them or they have not availed for medical support (2020horizon.com , 2012, p. 1) . Exact figures of HIV infected patients that have not subjected to medication remained unknown and the absence of statistics vary in ethnic density and lower area income level (2020horizon.com , 2012, p. 1) . Research pointed that the role of contextual factors in the health of HIV patients and the socio-economic determinants of inequalities in HIV diagnosis, disease progression, and treatment initiation need to be closely studied (2020horizon.com , 2012, p. 1) . They also pointed the need to explore the extent of HIV prognosis based on latent and multilevel gender, ethnicity, and social figures (2020horizon.com , 2012, p. 1) . Robinson and Moodie-Mills (2007) reported that based on information derived from International AIDS Conference participated by an estimated 20,000 representatives from 200 at Washington, bared troubling racial inequalities for domestic HIV epidemic (p. 1). Robinson et al (2007) pointed that the African Americans which composed only of 14% of U.S. population has 44% of this that are medically documented as HIV-positive. Figures also bared that men having sex with men only represent 2% of the population but accounted 61% of new HIV infections (p. 1). While researchers recognized that steps are undertaken to eliminate the disparities through the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Implementation Plan yet there remained underexplored disparities that needs to be addressed squarely (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 1). Popular culture has been blamed for unfortunate erroneous explanations for the stark racial disparate impact of HIV/ AIDS by citing reports mentioning that black men “on the down low” infect black women by acting as bisexual “bridge” between gay and non-gay community (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 1). Scholarly and academic support that could strengthen remained to be done (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 1). There is also a need to probe into the assumption that that black people suffer from greater HIV prevalence because they are considered less sexually responsible than white Americans because there are already studies proving that that black women and black men who have sex with men have same sex partners and also use condom for protection, hence, preventing behavioural risk (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 1). Therefore, it cannot also be explained that there is racial disparity as sexual protection are also being observed by black community (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 1). Researchers however, admitted that racial HIV gap and the racial health gap in its broadest terms, is correlated with racial wealth gap (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). Such meant that those who have sufficient income to sustain their living and have direct access to medication and healthcare support can enjoy much government and institutional support compared to those undocumented HIV-infected persons living in remote areas (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 1). Thus, those are able to access governmental support as HIV-infected persons, were able to access to segregated housing, education, employment, and health care albeit others considered this as a state-sponsored racially skewed mass incarceration (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). This situation was criticized as discrimination and another scheme adding to inequity (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). The Afro-Americans that are economically-challenged, being infected with HIV, wallowed poverty, gender, and sexual issues, became a social representation of a class in social exclusion whilst hoping to meet health inequities (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). Being contained in a segregated community, HIV/AIDS will likely increase in rates and added with structural inequalities, they’d likely get in contact with the same disease and might less likely treat it holistically (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). For them, the racial discrimination has evolved into this context under HIV/AIDS epidemic. The health inequities revealed by the distribution of HIV/AIDS illustrate that race is a social index of isolation and impoverishment, or disempowerment instead of a freer divergent community that is exhibiting responsible sexual attitudes or behaviours (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). Those low-income and coming from a minority neighbourhood are less likely to receive HIV testing and treatment being remote from quality medical support and health care institutions (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). Segregated community will suffer the viral load and to more risks (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). It also exposed unprotected people within the segregated community to sexual relations with persons coming from distressed neighbourhood (Robinson et al, 2007, p. 2). The effectiveness of medical intervention remained challenged by contextual realities. Researchers recommended that funding for HIV/AIDs support should be redistributed to prioritize those marginalized, remote and segregated communities of HIV-positive region. They also demanded from Congress to support the modification of budget to favour healthcare for vulnerable community. True, the institution involved on healthcare support would really need to compete with other medical agenda needing funding support. They likewise demanded to reformulate the housing opportunities with HIV-infected persons by considering the incidence of people living with the disease in a region instead of the AIDS cumulative morbidity. They likewise ask that housing opportunities will also be availed by the transgender by amending policies that discriminate and intimidate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Anent to this is a request that more fund be allocated for research and studies to probe on the role of sexual networks in racial inequalities viz a viz HIV transmission. This also correlates to the need of sustaining comprehensive and free health education and in developing strategies to address the problem of HIV-infected women and the prevention efforts for those in custody settings—meaning those HIV-positive persons inside the prison, juvenile detention centers and immigrant detention facilities. Economics The African state has been plagued with food insecurity in this millennium. Many of the HIV-infected persons also suffer humanitarian crisis since 2001and environmental problems affecting its climatic settings (Loevinsohn & Gillespie, 2003, p. 1). Poor rainfall in the area resulted to reduced production of food and other underlying causes of climatic problems affect them as well (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). As a consequence, black region suffer deep and widespread poverty, civil strife, land insecurity, uncontrolled pricing of goods, resource degradation, collapse of agricultural diversity, lack of governance, undemocratized press, and not quite pro-active civil society (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). Therefore, the problem pertaining to HIV is exacerbated by the regional food crisis. Such resulted to the gap of understanding the correlation or interrelationship with HIV/AIDS and food security (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). Figure. Analysis of the HIV’s causes and consequences to socio-economy in Africa (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). Many studies pointed on the impacts on food security rather than the other way around e.g. how food systems, policy, and practice may impact on the spread of HIV (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). Sociologists also posit that the dynamics response and effects at the to the communities remained unstudied (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). Besides, there are few studies undertaken to capture and learn from the many innovations that are underway by affected individuals and their communities, too (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). Experts also opined that the HIV-AIDS is a distinct matter that requires holistic programmes, new technologies, and new responses (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). The situation therefor exacerbate to the situation of hopelessness (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 1). Many primary support institutions really find difficulties in identifying their role to this problem partly because of lack of understanding to the complexity of the context and dynamics of the sector and the regions where they are currently located (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2). Limited knowledge and strategies in addressing this problem add to the inappropriateness of intervention and strategies in exhausting remedies, especially in maximizing resources and opportunities for remedial measures (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2). Global organizations involved in the in providing economic support mechanism are apparently producing other related implications of AIDS into their policy processes and to the plans, including those impacts to the communities culture and sensitivities (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2).There is a real need for effective mainstreaming and broad collaboration so that the strategic or long-term response better matches the scale and diversity of needs forwarded by the communities (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2). Earlier in this 20th century, economic support mechanisms were launched for HIV-infected region, such as the creation of the Regional Network on HIV/AIDS, Rural Livelihoods, and Food Security (RENEWAL) in 2001 which was facilitated by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) , International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) , World Food Programme (WFP) and other donors (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2). RENEWAL is operating in the regional network-of-networks of Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa to provide support to food- and nutrition-oriented organizations and public health (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2). The network also collaborated with agricultural and health ministries, research organizations, national AIDS commissions, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to address the concerns on food security and public health (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2). Following series of consultations with stakeholders, ten studies on HIV/AIDS and food crises in southern Africa was initiated in 2004(Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2) to enhance understanding about the micro and meso-environmental interactions to influence macro-level policy through open collaborations and networking (Loevinsohn et al, 2003, p. 2). References World Health Organization (2013). Global Health Observatory. Switzerland: WHO. Retrieved: http://www.who.int/gho/hiv/en/index.html 2020horizon.com (2012). Impact of socio-economical inequities in the progression of HIV infection at individual and contextual level in Europe. Intra-European Fellowships (IEF), EU: Econet, p. 1. Retrieved: http://www.2020-horizon.com/HIVDIS-Impact-of-socio-economical-inequalities-in-the-progression-of-HIV-infection-at-individual-and-contextual-level-in-Europe(HIVDIS)-s3529.html Robinson, R. & Moodie-Mills, A.C. (2007). HIV/AIDS Inequality: Structural Barriers to Prevention, Treatment, and Care in Communities of Color Why We Need A Holistic Approach to Eliminate Racial Disparities in HIV/AIDS. Center for American Progress and Berkeley Law/University of California. Retrieved: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/report/2012/07/27/11834/hivaids-inequality-structural-barriers-to-prevention-treatment-and-care-in-communities-of-color/ Loevinsohn , M.& Gillespie, S. (2003). HIV/AIDS, Food Security, and Rural Livelihoods: Understanding and Responding. Food Consumption and Nutrition Division Discussion Paper 157, Washington, D.C: International Food Policy Research Institute, pp. 1-2. Read More