HIV and African Americans - Essay Example

HIV in African Americans in Southern United s al Affiliation HIV in African Americans in Southern United s The new cases results from a number of factors including race and culture. HIV rates are influenced by these factors. The high rates of HIV infection among a certain group is explained by the nature in which they interact with the environment. Social factors are also a factor to be considered while ascertaining the spread of the virus. Us much as the country registers high number of HIV patients daily it is clear that various factors are responsible for the wide spread of the factor. It is clear that there is a high rate of HIV infections of HIV infections among the African Americans compared to other ethnic groups in USA. The high rates could be explained by the nature lifestyle and sexuality. The essay will focus on the prevalence proportion of HIV with focus being on measures to be undertaken to deal with the virus. Population plays part in accounting for HIV prevalence proportions. The numbers of new cases are proportional to the population density. According to Prejan et al. (2002), the African Americans accounts for the highest population of 18%. The region accounts for 36 % of the country’s population. The region is classified as being constituted of both social and economic problems. In each society HIV remain a major problem and there is need to focus on current methodologies and relate them to the high rate of this virus among certain groups of individuals. Poverty is a major concern in the region in that the region registered a high poverty rate compared to other regions in United States of America. The social factor plays part in the spread of HIV. The region in 2009 registered the highest levels of new infections in that more than 40% of new HIV infections where registered in the region compared to other regions to (Prejan et al., 2002). African Americans are at high risk of being exposed to HIV virus compared to other races. Madeline et al. (2015) indicates that in 2006 the African American account for 40% of HIV new infections. The ratio is worrying given the fact they only account for 13% of the entire American population. The high risk factor is triggered upon by the social life. Among the African Americans, the most affected gender is the female accounting for a higher percentage than the male population. The HIV high rate in Southern town of the country among the African Americans is contrary to the governments initiatives in curbing the virus. There is need to focus on how the ethic group interacts with the entire population. Social factors in this scenario play an integral role in positing individuals within societies. The region is characterized by high levels of poverty. This means that crime and other social problems would be high in the region. A large number of individuals would be incarcerated as an effort to punish wrongs within a community. The law indicates that males and females be separated during the incarceration period. The lonely life will mean that high number of same sex relationships. Limited resources will mean having unprotected sex among partners. This means increasing their chances of contracting HIV virus. Khan et al. (2007) indicted that in 2004 inmates where at higher risk of contracting the virus compared to 1999. The situation is worsened by the rate in which the inmates engage in sex with more than one partner. The risk is even high among female inmate. The nature of matters is higher among the African American population given their number in the correctional facilities. Same sex relationships are practices outside the prisons and the population in the south engages in it. According to Lieb et al. (2009) people engaging in men –men sex experience a high mortality rate caused by the virus. This indicates the sexual aspect of the population. High mortality and morbidity rates among this population are triggered by the manner in which the population interacts with drugs. The ethical groups expose itself less with antiretroviral drugs (Christine et al., 2009). Those living with the virus hence risk of weakening their immune systems due to the low active tendency. The scenario is different among the white patient who according to Christine et al (2009) have cognitive of the drugs and utilize them as part of their treatment. The high risks among the African Americans are worsened by the fact that those infected have a higher mortality rate triggered by the tendency of not using antiretroviral drugs. The high number of sexual partners having unprotected sex adds to many factors that places the population at high risk (Cindy et al., 2009). The high HIV prevalence rates among the black, calls for both social and individual action. This means formulating models that will prevent new infections and manage those diagnosed with the virus. Center for disease and Control plays part in ensuring this achieved. The main focus of the organization is working with infected African Americans in minimizing the rate of new infection (Madeline et al, 2009). Other initiates include The Act against AIDS Leadership Initiative and The Care and Prevention in the United Sates Demonstration Project (CAPUS). The two initiatives aim towards encouraging a large population to take regular HIV tests. CAPUS collaborate with community- based organization in offering support to infected minorities among society (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Providing STI treatment among the population is a move aimed at reducing mortality among the African Americans. Living with HIV (Brown, 2001) In conclusion there is need to focus on the social and economic factors, that encourages the high prevalence proportions among the African Americans. The focus should be on how to interact with the infected and those at a higher risk in controlling the spread of the virus. There is need to use community based organization in offering support to those infected. The prevention models include civic education to provide awareness among the community and engaging the ethnic groups on the importance of protected sex. The encouragement to use protection among partners among same sex partners should be the main gander of these community based organization. Reducing the rates of new infections is could eventually reduce the HIV rates among the African Americans. Reference Brown, G. (2001). HIV/ AIDS and African Americans. Minority Nurse Newsletter, 8 (3) : pp. 4 Christine, U.O., Carolyn, M. B., Kenneth, A. L., Laurajo, R., & Christopher, R. F. (2009).Evaluating HIV/AIDS Disparities for Blacks in the United States: A Review of Antiretroviral and Mortality Studies Journal of the National Medical Association,101:1221-1229. Cindy ,D., Melissa S., Samuel, M., & Barbara K.. ( 2007).HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Sexual Activity: An Examination of Racial Differences in a College Sample. Health and Social Works Journal. 32 (3) pp. 211-218. Khan, M.R., Wohl, D.A., Weir, S.S., Adimora, A.A., Moseley, C., Norcott, K., Duncan, J., Kaufman, J.S., & Miller, W. (2007). Incarceration and Risky Sexual Partnerships in a Southern US City. Journal of Urban health, 85 (1) 100-113. Lieb, S., Thompson, D.R., Misra, S., Gates, G.J., Duffus, W.A., Fallon, S.J., Liberti , T.M., Foust, E.M., & Malow, R. M. (2009). Estimating Populations of Men who have Sex with Men in the Southern United States. Journal of Urban health, 86(6): pp. 887- 900 Madeline, Y. S., Rhondette L. J., Ricard, J. W., Janet, C.C., Hazel D. D., & Kevin, A. F. (2009). A Review of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis Among Blacks in the United States, 1981-2009. American Journal of Public Health, 99 (2) pp. 351- 359. Prejean, J., Tang, T., & Hall, I.H. (2012). HIV Diagnoses and Prevalence in the Southern Region of the United States, 2007–2010. Community Health, 38: 414- 426 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( 2014).HIV Among African Americans. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/racialethnic/aa/ Read More