Background Information on HIV and AIDS - Essay Example

Health care Perspectives HIV/AIDS Background Information on HIV/AIDS This condition is a result of the HIVvirus, which targets the T cells of the body that usually enables the immune system fight antigens. HIV/ AIDS progresses in stages and the virus is transmittable at any of the stages. Different signs and symptoms are evident in each stage since the immune system reacts to the presence of the virus in the blood. Primary Infection The signs in this stage differ amongst the infected population and while some first experience fever, rashes and sore throat; around 50% experience flu (Adler, 2012, pg.21). In this stage, the body releases HIV antibodies and the process is called sero-conversion. A test carried out before this process is complete, may not detect the availability of the HIV antibodies. In addition, the virus multiplies rapidly in this stage; hence, the risk of transmission via unprotected sex is at its maximum. Asymptomatic stage of HIV This is the symptom free stage and its duration depends on the replication rate of the virus as well as the ability of the immunity of an infected individual to fight the virus (Adler, 2012, pg. 22). It can even take up to a decade before symptoms appear in a case where HIV status is undiagnosed hence untreated. At this point however, HIV antibodies are detectable with a test. Symptomatic Stage Symptoms start appearing at this stage as well as other opportunistic infections. This is usually because the immune system is usually damaged at this point hence cannot fight infections. Symptoms experienced at this stage include night sweats, persistent diarrhoea, oral thrush as well as swollen glands and outbreaks of STIs (Adler, 2012, pg.22). In case HIV is not treated at this stage, the immune system will deteriorate hence symptoms become intense. Progression to AIDS This is the most advanced stage and the infected individual experiences infections such as tuberculosis and pneumonia as well as cancer. The immune system has deteriorated at this stage and is not treated, the infected person live for more than 2 years Diagnosis and Prevalence By the end of 2011, 120,756 people in the UK had been diagnosed with HIV and 27,361 with AIDS (AVERT, 2014). HIV diagnoses are slightly less currently but are still higher than those seen at the end of 1990s. The reducing diagnoses can be because of the anti retroviral therapies that delay the progression of HIV to AIDs hence reducing HIV-associated mortality and morbidity as well (AVERT 2014). The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is estimated using data obtained from Survey of Prevalent HIV infections diagnosed. As per 2011, there were 73695 individuals in the UK accessing HIV care. 43% of these individuals acquire the HIV virus through male homosexual sex and 34% of the same population have black African background. Clinical iceberg is evident since the data from this survey relies on statistics of those diagnosed in the health care facilities; the numbers could be more as there are others who have been diagnosed yet. The prevalence of HIV can therefore only be only taken as estimates (AVERT, 2014). As per 2010, approximately 91,500 individuals in the UK were HIV positive. Considering the fact that 73,659 individual’s access treatment, the estimate shows that 20% of individuals are unaware of their HIV status. Compared to other parts of the world, the UK has a relatively small epidemic in HIV and AIDS. As much as the numbers are low, they have show an increase since the early years (AVERT, 2014). Reference to sociological explanations for HIV/AIDS The prevention biomedical model has been used in the UK and the process of prevention has been medicalised as interventions. The individuals are usually advised on the facts of HIV when they visit the testing centres. The aim of this intervention focuses on the behaviours and the health message focuses on the risks associated with intercourse (Kippax, 2010, pg. 2). Change in behaviour is usually expected shortly after the HIV prevention intervention. This model contains some demerits such as the way in which this information is understood by those being addressed as well as the mode of actions they will portray as the react to the same (Kippax, 2010, pg.3). In addition, this model fails to recognize the importance of practice as the intervention dwells mostly on behaviour (Kippax, 2010, pg.3). Finally, the insistence of experiment distorts the HIV prevention efforts, hence adds up to the disadvantages of this model. The literatures on HIV usually portray women as the vulnerable sex to HIV infection. This is because they are usually susceptible to men’s sexual power. Initially, women were not the centre of attention in the HIV pandemic but as years progress; they have been treated as vectors of the virus hence have to protect themselves by insisting on male use of condoms. Feminist recognition has provided reasons that this expectation of women to always protect themselves will not be successful. The recognition of the fact that women are structurally disadvantaged has gained a lot of attention, support and has promoted the advocacy for gender equality. Moreover, international concern of this issue has attracted funding for feminine issues that had been ignored and research is underway in order to generate women controlled prevention programs. This includes the introduction of technologies such as microbicides, diaphragms and female condoms. This will give the women a chance to control the prevention instead of negotiation for safe sex from the male counterparts. The media has always exaggerated issues on the HIV pandemic and in the 1980s; they created a moral panic (Bryant, 2011). Some media organizations even refereed to HIV and AIDS as the gay plaque stigmatizing the gay population. After scientists had gained more information on HIV, they ruled out the fact that it was not only passed by the gay community hence shifting the panic to the youthful generation. This is not true statistically but it is the picture painted by the media. Marxists claim that the media promoted ideas that best suits them (Bryant, 2011). According to them, the media dives the society through panic situations making it easier for the elites who know the truth to maintain control. According to functionalists explanations however, the media serves a critical role in airing out different opinions and maintaining freedom (Bryant, 2011). The functionalists support the media claiming that it appreciates the different point of views. Risk Factors of HIV and AIDS There are a number of risk factors that can increase HIV risk and the most common include having unprotected sex with an infected individual, having many sexual partners, having sex with a sex worker or people who inject themselves with drugs (Morison, 2014). In addition, sharing sharp objects with an infected individual will also lead to transmission of the virus. Often, the transmission occurs unknowingly since most people do not know their HIV status. Moreover, late diagnosis of HIV has also proved to be a critical risk factor when it comes to transmission of the virus. A study conducted on ICU admissions amongst the infected individuals showed that many patients are diagnosed with HIV infection when it is too late (Shrosbree et al., 2013, pg. 2). By the time they are diagnosed, the CD4 cells have fallen below the threshold and usually at this time, clinical complications are rampant. In most of these cases, progression to AIDS is already evident and at this point, the chances of mortality and mobility as well as the health care costs increase (Shrosbree et al., 2013, pg. 2). Essence of public health and health promotion Public health aims at ensuring that every individual in the UK has access to health services. It is a legal right for persons living with HIV and AIDS to access reproductive and sexual health attention hence measures that ensure the reduction of HIV/AIDS incidences gave been introduced. They have advocated for the introduction or protective technologies as well as the continued development of new technologies. For the purposes of ensuring good public health, family planning procedures as well as prenatal health care services where HIV testing, counselling and treatment carried out have been developed. Moreover, public health personnel have continuously advocated for increased funding to ensure improved access to reproductive health services. All this enables the infected individuals to continually access health care services. Any laws limiting the access to protective technologies or restricting the passage of information about the effectiveness of their use should be amended because they not only undermine public health objectives and infringe on the rights of the people. Heath promotion on matters concerning HIV/AIDS is a very important step towards ensuring wellness amongst the population. It is part of the objectives of the heath promotion procedures to ensure that people visit the testing centres to know their status. Diagnosis is very critical since it will not only stop the spread of HIV but also ensure early treatment hence higher mortality for the infected individuals. It has been successful owing to the fact that HIV/AIDS has not progressed to the pandemic level that had been feared previously. Both statutory and voluntary bodies with the aim of preventing spread of the virus carry out health promotion procedures on the UK. Conclusion Considering the modes of transmission, the stages as well as the prevalence and incidence of HIV/AIDS mentioned, effective treatment is necessary. Antiretroviral therapy has been used as a solution to the HIV/AIDS menace. The Antiretroviral drugs enable the immune system to recover. It achieves this by interfering the life cycle of the virus or preventing the virus from entering the cell. As much as they do not cure the condition, they can give the infected individual a normal life expectancy if diagnosed and treated early. Early diagnosis is important, as it will prevent the infection from progressing into AIDS. Most studies indicate that people who receive late diagnosis are more likely to develop AIDS compared to those who diagnosed and treated early. References Adler, M. W. 2012. ABC of HIV and AIDS. West Sussex, John Wiley & Sons. 7. AVERTing HIV and AIDS (ADVERT). 2014. HIV and AIDS in the UK. Accessed on October 20, 2014 from Read More