AIDS: Global Health Issue - Literature review Example

AIDS Global Health Issue Name of the Student: Name of the Instructor: Name of the course: Code of the course: Submission date: AIDS Global Health Issue Introduction AIDS is a global epidemic that has become a global concern. By the year 2010, about 34 million people were affected by the HIV in the world. More than half of the total affected people were women. Approximately 3.4 million were children below 15 years of age. During the year, about 1.8 million deaths resulted from AIDS. This was a decrease from the 3.1 million deaths in the year 2001.The epidemic is more serious in the developing countries as compared to the developed countries. Most deaths occur in the developing countries and specifically in the Sub- Sahara Africa. In the year 2010, 68% of the deaths were from this region. According to Albright & Kawooya (2005, p. 106), AIDS is currently the most devastating disease facing human being. In order to fight aids, different policies are used to control AIDS in the developed countries as compared to policies in the developing countries (De Cock & Katabira 1999, p.1391). Developed countries have better strategies and as a result, AIDS is less in those countries. In fact, 90% of the infected people are from the developing countries (Albright & Kawooya 2005, p.106). This paper will compare and contrast the policies and practices employed to deal with AIDS epidemic in both developed and developing countries. The paper will also use Australia as developed country while Uganda will be used as a developing country. Aids Policies in the USA Being a super power in the world, the USA has often received much focus from other countries. Generally, most developing countries base their anti- AIDS policies on the American policies. The first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in the year 1981. The first cases to be reported at the time were mostly homosexual men (Yue 2008, p.227). They were mostly men who had been diagnosed with Kaposi’s sarcoma but it was later discovered that even those people who use intravenous drugs were also affected by the disease. Between 1981 and 1987, there was a tremendous increase in the number of people affected by AIDS most of them being homosexual men (Moss1988, p.57). The media created the impression that AIDS is a disease of homosexuals. Over time, the focus of the American policies shave shifted to heterosexuals and other HIV/AIDS transmission channels. Just as Australia, the USA government has initiated a legal framework so as to enforce strategic anti-HIV/AIDS policies which have in turn worked out right for the country; hence it’s being able to reduce the number of victims and infections drastically. Over time, the USA government has been a major donor to the global fight against HIV/AIDS, mostly donating to the developing counties for example Uganda, as it will be seen later in the paper. Overview of the AIDS Epidemic in Uganda and Australia Uganda is a developing country located in east Africa. Just as other developing countries, Uganda has been hard hit by the aids epidemic. However, the country remains as a model in Africa as a country which has been able to fight HIV/AIDS owing to its successful policies which have resulted to a reduced number of people living with AIDS in addition to reducing new infections . As at now, there are about 1.2 million people living with HIV/ AIDS in Uganda. In the year 2009, it is estimated that there were about 64,000 deaths which occurred as a result of HIV/ AIDS (Shumba, Atuhaire, Imakit, Atukunda, & Memiah 2013, p.2) On the other hand, Australia is a developed country. The number of HIV/ AIDS infections in the country is very low as a compared to Uganda oblivious of the fact that Australia has a larger population that Uganda, in addition to its larger geographical area. As at the end of the year 2010, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Australia was 21,391 which is a big difference as compared to Uganda’s (McDonald eds. 2011, p.2). Moreover, the total number of deaths which have occurred as a result of AIDS in the country are 6,776, which is then times less than the AIDS deaths related deaths in Uganda in one year. From the above statistics, it is clear that there is a big difference between the anti HIV/AIDS policies in the two countries, hence illustrating their success in Australia as compared to Uganda the following section will compare and contrast the policies in both countries. Differences in the AIDS policies in Uganda and Australia One of the HIV/ AIDS policies which illustrate a big difference between the policies in Australia and Uganda is on funding. This is a major aspect of a policy since determines the level of success of the policies which will, be executed. Generally, any policy must illustrate how it will be funded and by whom. Due to the different economic prowess of Australia and Uganda, there is a sharp difference with respect to the success of the anti AIDS policies which they establish and execute. For instance, the low number of HIV/AIDS infections in Australia is accredited to the fast responses from the government. In the year 1996 to 1997, the Federal Government of Australia allocated $51,000,000 to anti HIV/AIDS campaigns in the country (Malek 2006, p.3). The point here is that Australia is able to fund its anti HIV/AIDS campaigns and policies from within; that is its economy is able to fund it. On the other hand, Uganda is a developing country; hence it is still struggling financially as compared to Australia (Albright & Kawooya 2005, p.107). Therefore, the country does not have adequate financial resources to fund its anti AIDS policies. For this reason, just as other developing countries, the country has heavily relied on donations from western countries for instance USA and UK and international bodies such as the World Health. For instance, the US ambassador has been quoted saying that Uganda should not rely wholly on the USA for the funding on ARVs. Therefore, the economic difference between Australia and Uganda marks one of the major aspects which explain why the anti AIDS policies in Australia are more effective as compared to those in Uganda. Another HIV/AIDS policy which is established and practiced differently in Australia and Uganda is on prevention and control. From the statistics on the prevalence of AIDS in the two countries under study, it is clear that the prevention and control policies in the Australia re more effective as compared to those in Uganda. First of all, it must be acknowledged that the AIDS control and prevention is Australia is backed by a legal framework established by the government and a financial and resources support from it too (Malek, 2006). This is contrary to the control and prevention policies in Uganda. Although the Ugandan government has seen the need to get involved in the fight against AIDS in the recent past, its lack of involvement in the past is the major contributing factor to the high prevalence of HIV aids in the country. For this reason, the anti AIDS polices in Australia were made at an initial stage; when the AIDS epidemic was still manageable, hence illustrating the success of the anti AIDS policies in Australia as opposed to Uganda. On this point, it is important to note that there is free universal testing kits availed to Australians by the government since the 1990’s. This is as opposed to Uganda whereby one has to go to the hospital to get tested (Malek, 2006). This has imparted heavily on the prevention and control policies in the two countries, with them being much more successful in Australia than in Uganda. As at now, the government has been involved in various multi sectorial programs such as distribution of condoms as well as promotion of popular drama groups, songs and counseling programs (Fournier, Kipp, Mill and Walusimbi 2007, p.257). Therefore, it can be seen that the control and prevention measures in Australia are more fast and effective as compared to those in Uganda, hence forming a big difference between the policies in the two countries. The communication policies in Australia and Uganda are also different. Communication in the fight against AIDS as well as any other disease is a very important in ensuring that the people are able to protect themselves against the disease and also know how to undertake medication in instances whereby they are already infected. On this point, it can be noted that the AIDS communication and awareness policies in Australia are more effective that those in Uganda. Press is especially very effective in communicating and creating awareness regarding health risks. In the late 1986 and early 1987, press was used to communicate health risks messages in Australia (Lupton 1993, p.307). At first aids communication was targeted towards discouraging homosexuality, which was seen as the main cause of HIV/AIDS. However, the realization that HIV /AIDS was not just for the homosexuals but for the heterosexuals as well led to the media and government communication agencies shifting their target to the later (Leonard 2012, p.837). On the other hand, communication about HIV/AIDS in Uganda is has been very poor in the past. In place of it, social stigma has crippled efforts by the government and the media to fight the epidemic in addition to the various negative effects of cultural beliefs, leading to what is referred to as silence on the AIDS (Komwa, Jacobsen, Parker and Dawn 2010, p.1). Ideally, in developing countries, the epidemic is much more serious due to poor means of communication (Martha, & Waranya 2000, p.55). Technological means of passing on information would be more effective as opposed to the current means which relies on personal interactions. It is not easy to pass information to many people through the use of personal information since one has to make many road trips to reach the target audience. This is expensive and time consuming and not so effective in the long run as compared to the technological means (Albright & Kawooya 2005, p.108). Therefore, the AIDS communication policies in the two countries is major difference between the AIDS polices in Australia and Uganda. Similarities between the AIDS Policies in Australia and Uganda One of the similarities of the AIDS policies in the Uganda and Australia is the involvement of the community in the AIDS policies. It should be acknowledged that fight against any disease demands for a strategy which ensures that the policies are successful. Owing to the fact that the greatest cause of the spread of HIV/AIDS is sex which is a social aspect, there is a need to deal with AIDS at a social level. Social stigma is a major factor which waters down the fight against AIDS and also the care and protection of the affected persons. This is specifically so in developing countries, most of which still hold on to majority of their cultural practices. Fr this reason, the Ugandan government has sought ways of involving the community in the fight against AIDS. For instance, the government has been involved in various multi sectorial programs such as distribution of condoms as well as promotion of popular drama groups, songs and counseling programs (Fournier, Kipp, Mill and Walusimbi 2007, p.257). The use such things such as songs and linking them with AIDS ensures that community realizes with aspects about AIDS from a social perception. On the other hand, the Australian government has established community based AIDS control programs which ensure that the social aspects of AIDS which includes such things as behavioral change are embraced in the country. Therefore, the integration of the society in the AIDS policies in the two countries is a major similarity between the policies in the Uganda and Australia. Another similarity between the AIDS policies in Australia and Uganda is the use of the ABC concept. The ABC concept has been adopted by other countries around the world owing to its efficiency in fighting AIDS. The concept calls for abstinence (A) for people who are not married (Okware, Kinsman, Onyango, Opio & Kaggwa 2005, p.625). This ensures that the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS are reduced by a large margin. The second B advocates for being faithful and being tested. This ensures that individuals know their HIV status, hence being able to manage their health. This also enables the government to plan for the health in the country, hence being able to control the HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country. Lastly, C advocates for condoms. As at now, condoms are the most effective preventive measures in the prevention of HIV during sexual intercourse. Looking at the entire ABC concept, it can be seen that it is a great concept towards preventing, managing and controlling the spread of HIV/ AIDS (Okware, Kinsman, Onyango, Opio & Kaggwa 2005, p.626). The ABC concept has been very successful in reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence in Uganda. In fact, it has been regarded as one of the most effective policies in the country towards reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country which had risen to a record high in the 1980s and 1990s (Okware, Kinsman, Onyango, Opio & Kaggwa 2005, p.626).). The government and other anti HIV/AIDS organizations in the country continue to emphasize the observation of the concept up to date. On the other hand, Australia has incorporated aspects of the ABC concept into its anti-AIDS programs. It should be noted that the conceptualization of the ABC concept was in the late 1990’s, a period in which Australia had already been able to control the spread of HIV/AIDS and also reduce the prevalence rate tremendously. However, the government via the ministry of health and other health departments embarked on giving free condoms to encourage safe sex which is an ABC element in a bid to safeguard the gains against HIV/AIDS which have already been gained. The recent fuss about whether free condoms should be given to school children is an indicator of the government’s embracement of the aspects of the ABC concept (Simons 2010, p.1). The advocacy for sexual health (incorporates testing) which is provided under subsidized fees is also an indirect focus on the ABC concept. From the above, it can be seen that the ABC concept is common in both Uganda and Australia, hence forming a major similarity between the two. Evaluating the AIDS policies in Australia and Uganda, it can be seen that Australia is far much more advanced in its fight against the epidemic as compared to Uganda. It can be concluded, the AIDS policies in Australia are more effective than those in Uganda. The statistics prove it. The paper has discussed about the funding, communication and prevention and control AIDS polices under the major differences between the AIDS polices in Australia and Uganda. From the comparison, it has been seen that Australia’s practices with respect to the above three policies are more efficient. The paper has identified similarities in the AIDS policies in the two countries as the use of the ABC (Abstain, Be faithful & tested, use a Condom) concept and the involvement of the community in fighting AIDS. Both countries are doing well in the two policies. Amongst all the five polices discussed, the ABC concept is the most effective policy. This is due to the fact that it fights HIV / AIDS on every stage of its prevalence. Abstinence helps protect people against HIV/ AIDS since they are not exposed to the virus. Being faithful and being tested controls the spread of the disease and also enables individuals and the health institutions to manage the disease. Using a condom ensures that individuals who engage in sexual interactions do so safely, hence protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS (Okware, Kinsman, Onyango, Opio & Kaggwa 2005, p.625). The success of the policy in the two countries indicates its high level of efficiency. Altogether, it can be seen that Australia is doing better that Uganda in the establishment and execution of AIDS policies. However, it is important to acknowledge the efforts which the Ugandan government as put in place in order to fight the killer disease. On this point, it can be noted that Uganda is doing better than most African countries. In fact, this country is one of the few African countries that have had a significant reduction in the number of AIDS victims. Precisely put, it is a model country which other African countries are trying to emulate. However, the Uganda has a long way to go towards reducing the 1.2 million infection and 64,000 deaths annually to a number such as Australia’s. Therefore, Uganda should integrate appropriate policies from the Australian model. In conclusion, HIV/AIDS is a disease that has caused so much concern across the world. It has affected the developing countries more as compared to the developed countries. This because the developing countries have fewer resources to deal with the situation as compared to the resources in the developed countries. However, there are some countries in Africa which have recorded a significant decrease in the number of HIV victims. Uganda is one of these countries. Australia is one of the developed countries which have also been involved in fighting against the spread of HIV. It has also had its policies which include the reduction of HIV spread among the gay as well as other couples. References Albright, K. S. & Kawooya, D. (2005). The Role of Information in Uganda’s Reduction Of HIV/AIDS: individual perceptions of HIV/AIDS information. Information Development. 21(2): 106-112 De Cock, K. M. & Katabira E. T., (1999). Approach to Management of HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries. 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