Special Populations (Health care) - Essay Example

Persons living with HIV/ AIDS Number Submitted Introduction All over the world, the number of people affected by the HIV/AIDS is on the rise. According to the CDC estimate by the end of 2008, in U.S.A 4 Million were living with AIDS diagnoses. Analysing the history of AIDS in America, it is estimated that around 1,142,714 people have been infected by this disease since the beginning of the epidemic (Avert International HIV and AIDS Charity, 2011). In 2008, the data collected from the 40 U.S. states and the 5 dependent areas showed that from the total number of people that were living with an HIV Diagnosis; 46 percent were African Americans; 31.

6 percent were whites; 20 percent were Hispanic; 2.36 percent were from multiple races. In 2009, African American was accounted for half of all new HIV diagnoses (Avert International HIV and AIDS Charity, 2011). In 2009, the diagnosis of men with AIDS showed that 56 percent consisted of Black American men; 79 percent were consisted of white men; while 65 percent were Latino men. For females, the diagnosis of AIDS in 2009 showed that 78 percent of African American women were affected by this disease; 75 percent of Latino women were the victims and 68 percent were white women (LatinVoices, 2011).

According to reports, the basic transmission route among men is from male-to-male sexual contact; 74 percent of the people become affected through it. It is followed by heterosexual contact which constitutes 14 percent; while 8 percent of the men become infected through injecting drug use. Whereas, the women are infected due to heterosexual contact and its percentage is 84.9 percent. The next leading source of AIDS in women is injecting drug use which constitutes around 14.8 percent (United State Statistic by Race and Age, 2011).

In the USA more than half a million people have died due to AIDS. Approximately two-thirds of these people did not reach to the age of 45. The survey of 2009 shows that the most affect age group is comprised of 20 – 24 years (United State Statistic by Race and Age, 2011). In 2010, a study by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that in America poorest urban neighbourhood indulge in heterosexual activities by 2.1 percent (Avert International HIV and AIDS Charity, 2011). AnalysisAlthough HIV and AIDS affect all the sectors of American society, however, the impact has been more serious among some groups than others.

The most commonly identified groups are gays, bisexual men, and those people who are injecting drugs. However, it cannot be only because of the individual behaviour but rather due to the individual’s sexual network, which expose them to the HIV risk in America. African Americans are more likely to be infected due to the high prevalence in the community because they have the tendency to choose similar partner (Avert International HIV and AIDS Charity, 2011). As it is discussed that the risk of HIV is more common in poorest urban areas; these areas are also suffering from limited access to health care and other basic services.

Thus, it can be concluded that the socioeconomic status and HIV prevalence are linked together. In such scenario, the people who are living with the infected one must have a positive attitude towards the patients. They should help the patient visit health care centres regularly. Moreover, they need to ensure that they choose safer sex for both the partners (Frontiers Prevention Project, 2007).References Avert International HIV and AIDS Charity. (2011) HIV and AIDS in America. Accessed on 20th October 2011 from http://www.avert.org/america.

htmFrontiers Prevention Project (2007). Positive Prevention, HIV prevention with people living with HIV. Accessed on 20th October 2011 from http://www.aidsalliance.org/includes/Publication/Positive_prevention.pdf Macias. L.J. (2011). African Americans and Latinos are Most Affected by HIV, New Report Shows. Lationovoices. Accessed on 20th October 2011 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/12/african-americans-latinos-hiv-aids_n_1008218.html United State Statistic by Race and Age. (2011). Accessed on 20th October 2011 from http://www.avert.org/usa-race-age.htm#