Unprotected Sex or Other Non-Conventional Sexual Activities - Coursework Example

RISK MANAGEMENT Name Institution Date Course 1. Unprotected Sex Or Other Non-Conventional Sexual Activities The risks of the activity Unprotected sex could be refined as heterosexual vaginal intercourse by those not seeking pregnancy and not using any contraceptives (Foster, et al, 2011). Several other unprotected sexual activities exist and people have continued to engage in several other non-conventional activities. All over the world, there have been concerns about sexual activities among the youth and the elderly members of society. Several efforts have been made by interested organizations and governments to ensure that the citizens as well as the general populations were aware of the risks associated with engaging in unsafe sexual activities and that everybody ensured that they do not engage in activities that endanger their health or expose them to infections. A survey conducted on 1497 women and men at several clinics and physician offices in California that interviewed whether or not they used contraceptives, revealed the following results. 30% of those interviewed said definitively that they would have unprotected sex while another 20% indicated that they would “maybe” or “sometimes” engage in unprotected sex (Foster et al, 2011). The study further revealed that a significant proportion of men and women were willing to engage in unprotected sex even when fully aware of the subsidized contraceptive options available and even when recently cancelled about birth control. Unprotected sex has been associated with several risks which include risks of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and other infections as well as the possibilities of unplanned or unintended pregnancies. The greatest risk associated with unprotected sex in the past few decades has been the risk of contracting HIV or AIDS. As Dudley et al (2004) say, young men who engage in sex with other men face increased risk of contracting HIV compared to their heterosexual peers. Not only is the disease not curable, but it leaves victims in poor physical conditions and continuous medications and may result in death in a few years if not diagnosed in time. Even for those already HIV positive, unprotected sex carries the risk of unintended pregnancies, possibilities of becoming super-infected with other new strains or strains that may be more aggressive or resistance to anti-HIV drugs. The result could be failure of treatments that could otherwise have been effective. Bacterial STIs like gonorrhoea and Chlamydia are treatable both for the HIV-negative and those that are positive when detected early. Failure to receive prompt treatment could result to infertility and damage to internal organs. Syphilis, particularly in individuals whose immune system has been severely damaged can be harder to diagnose and cure and has been reported to be more aggressive when the immune system gets damaged. Syphilis outbreaks have been reported amongst gay men across several countries in Europe and North America and gay men who have HIV have been disproportionately affected. In Eastern Europe, and in several other parts of the world, syphilis predominantly affects heterosexuals and has been linked to higher risk of HIV infection, along with other ulcerating diseases that are treatable like chancroid and donovanosis. Other untreatable viral infections like Genital herpes and genital warts have also been diagnosed and these further indicate that many people still practice unprotected sex. Although these infections respond to medications, they have been found to reoccur and could be harder to control if the immune system gets severely damaged Further risks of unprotected sex include complications that may arise from liver viruses’ hepatitis A, B and C which can be transmitted through sexual contacts. Hepatitis has been found to cause liver damage which may further limit treatment options for HIV. Causal chain diagram The probability of the risk event and why people choose unprotected sex The probability of individuals engaging in unprotected sex and other non-conventional activities has remained significantly high. The practices has been common among the youth and the unmarried but researchers have found that even couples find many reasons to engage in such acts. Barriers such as poor access to contraceptives, dissatisfaction with family planning services, inadequate knowledge of contraceptive methods, as well as difficulty or inconvenience of using the protection methods (Foster et al, 2011) have been found to encourage unprotected sex. Women have also been found to have reduced ability to negotiate in matters of using protection. Other sexual and relationship factors also show the potential to contribute to unsafe sex. People may abandon condoms as they aim to facilitate both emotional and physical closeness while others may want to simply have significant sexual desires. Protection has also been associated with diminished sexual pleasures and enjoyment. Other studies have also revealed that adolescents may engage in unprotected sex simply to experience pleasure, express love, please their partners or just to enhance mood (Foster et al, 2011). While people continue to pursue their sexual desires and feel that protection will inhibit these desires, and given the other factors discussed above, the probability that they will engage in unprotected sex is still very high. Dudley et al (2004) evidence indicates that the percentage of youth engaging in gay sex remains high. The cost to society Unprotected sex has resulted to significant individual, social, national as well as global consequences and costs. These practices have resulted in increased cases of infections which mean that more people seek medical attention and therefore incur increased medical costs. Societies and governments have also participated in campaigns and costs related to care and medications. Since HIV and AIDS is prevalent in developing countries with minimal financial capabilities, unprotected sex and the resulting high cases of HIV has overstreched these governments financially, as they seek to help their citizens. A research in India, for example, found that the total cumulative estimate of HIV-infected persons was 1.5 million(low estimate), 2.5 million (medium estimate) and 4.5 million (high estimate) and the total estimated annual costs of HIV/AIDS under low, medium and high estimates in billion Rupees was 6.73, 20.16 and 59.19 respectively. The costs of treatment and loss of productivity were the major components of the cost (Anand et al, 1999). High mortality and mobility rates due to HIV/AIDS have also been largely linked to unprotected sex. Risk assessment It is practically difficult to accurately estimate the costs related to diagnosis and treatment of diseases resulting from unprotected sex and other non-conventional practices. But national government estimates indicate that the global costs of these risk events add up to thousands of millions of dollars. Tolerability of each activity (ToR) The tolerance of risk is very high given the high costs of treatment of HIV/AIDS and other infections as well as unwanted pregnancies against the low cost of getting protection like condoms and other contraceptives. Governments spend trillions of shillings to diagnose, treat, and care for sick patients and these could be significantly reduced if not avoided by using protection during sex. Inevitable consequences The consequences of unprotected sex are to a great extent preventable. Individuals engage in these acts with knowledge of the associated consequences but they still do it. The risks associated with unprotected sex are well known to many people but while they understand the consequences, the prevailing infections and unwanted pregnancies indicate that they do it anyway. Several people seem addicted to unprotected sex and only come to regret later. 2. Taking illegal substances such as drugs The risks of the activity Drugs include chemical substances that are taken to realise a specific effect. For illegal drugs, like cocaine, marijuana, heroin or ecstasy, their use is aimed at altering the functioning of the brain to achieve provision of sensations that are experienced as pleasurable. All drugs will usually have desirable as well as undesirable effects. The greatest concern of recreational drugs is persistent compulsion to use the drug even when the user experiences problems in relationships, finances, health (both mental and physical), school and/or work. All drugs and illegal substances have risks. Although some people categorise them as soft and hard drugs, the truth is that even the soft drugs have serious risks. Many people use drugs. An overview of the prevalence level of drug use in Australia based upon the 2004 NDS survey is shown below. The figure presents both the prevalence within the preceding 12 months and lifetime prevalence. Source: Ross, 2007 According to the survey, Cannabis remained the most widely used illicit drug in Australia. At the time of the survey, 33.6% of those aged 14 years and above had ever used this drug, with 11.3% having used it 12 months before the survey. This drug has been found to present serious risks to users. Cannabis may precipitate schizophrenia in users who have a family or personal history of the disorder. Some evidence also indicates that in users who have psychosis vulnerability, Cannabis increases their risk of experiencing psychotic symptoms. The drug also poses moderate risk for later depression and heavy users may experience additional risk of committing suicide. It also associated with dependence and approximately one in every three users either abused the drug or was dependent on it (Ross, 2007). Methamphetamine is able to induce a brief paranoid in users. The prevalence of psychosis has been found to be 11 times higher in users of this drug compared with the general population. Other risks include increased aggression, depression, anxiety disorder, and personality disorders. Risks related to alcohol and other substances abuse are well known to many people. Too much alcohol has caused users to suffer physical and mental dependence, violent behaviour, agree feelings and aggressive acts, memory loss, headaches, Nausea and vomiting and muscle weakness. Excessive use of alcohol has also been known to cause problems with internal organs like liver, kidney and lungs as well as damage to the brain. Other risks include hallucinations, convulsions, and tremors, and hyperactivity or sluggish behaviour. The use of these drugs among school goers has been associated with poor performance, unintended or unwanted sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases and infections and unwanted pregnancies. The probability of the risk event The probability of individuals engaging in the use and abuse of drugs is high. The survey results from a study in England and Wales in 2011 revealed that a significant percentage of people have used drug with prevalence lever of having taken illicit drugs increasing from 30.5% in 1996 to 36.3% in 2010/11. Other studies have also indicated that the probability of taking these drugs globally still remains significantly high. The cost to society Drug abuse and addiction remain a great burden to society. In the United states, in 2007, it was estimated that the economic costs associated with drug abuse exceeded half a trillion dollars every year. These costs were associated with matters to do with health, losses in productivity and crime-related costs. The estimates also indicated that 14% of patients admitted to hospitals in the country suffered alcohol/drug abuse and addiction disorders. Again, about 20% of all Medicaid hospital costs and almost $1 of every $4 Medicare spends on inpatient care was related to substance abuse. More surprisingly, the economic burden of drug/substance addiction in the United State was found to be twice that of any of the other diseases that affect the brain, including Alzerimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. These statistics are not unique to the United States, but are common in several other states around the world. The total global costs are therefore unimaginable (Friends of NIDA, 2008)! Risk assessment Costs incurred that are associated with this risk include those for rehabilitation, jail terms of users who have broken the law, diagnosis and treatment of related disease and other costs like caring and medications. Again, these costs are immeasurably high on the global scene and could go beyond thousands of millions of dollars. The tolerability of each activity (ToR) Again, this risk event presents a significantly high tolerability of risk. This is because the consequences of the risk are associated with unimaginably high costs of treatment and rehabilitation and care against zero costs in the case people avoided these substances. People have different reasons to engage in abuse of drugs and substance but they never achieve their desires but instead get trapped in the addiction. This makes the tolerability of risk extremely high. Causal chain Drug/substance abuse has generally been found to follow a certain chain of activities. These are: Early on-set to legal substances (tobacco and alcohol) at around 14 years Introduction to glue/solvents Early or middle onset soft drugs (cannabis, mushroom, amphetamines, LSD) Early or middle onset hard drugs (crack, heroin, methadone) at about 17 years Late onset recreational drugs (cocaine, ecstasy) with mean first use of about 20 years (Pudney, 2001). Causal chain diagram Why people consciously choose to undertake this activity People will try drugs in order to fit in and socialize with other users while others may just want to relax. Other reasons include desires to relax, need to escape; some drugs are easily available and cheap, to experiment or appear a rebel, while others use drugs to just feel good. Other people use drugs since they believe that it will help them cope with their personal problems, cope with stress or handle family problems. Once they get introduced, people will continue to use drugs because they can’t stay without it due to its addictiveness. Most users get to abuse drugs in the full knowledge of associated consequences but feel greater desire to fulfil themselves or experience what other users are feeling. Inevitable consequences The consequences associated with drug abuse are diverse and very significant. The associated physical and mental consequences greatly affect way of life. But while these consequences continue to affect people, they are easily preventable. Individuals need to fight the urge to dive into substance abuse while those already addicted could attend rehabilitation programs. In this way, many of these consequences could be well avoided. Can risk taking be addictive and why? Once users have started using alcohol and drugs, they find it extremely difficult to stop. Illegal substances and drug abuse is therefore very addictive and users remain at the mercy of these substances and drugs. List of References Anand, K, Pandav, CS, & Nath LM, 1999, Impact of HIV/AIDS on the national economy of India, Health Policy, 47: 195-205. Foster, DG, Higgins JA, Biggs MA, McCain C, Holty S & Brindis CD, 2011, Willingness to Have Unprotected Sex, Journal of sex research, 0:0, 1-8 Dudley, MG, Rostoscky SS, Korfhage BA & Zimmerman RS, 2004, Correlatives of high-risk sexual behaviour among young men who have sex with men, AIDS Education and Prevention, 16:4, 328-340 Friends of NIDA, 2008, Addiction research: a national imperative, recommendations for the presidential transition team, retrieved on 24th April 2014 from Pudney, S, 2001, The road to ruin? Sequences of initiation to drug use and offending by young people in Britain, retrieved on 24th April 2014 from Appendix: A: FMEA for unprotected sex and non-conventional practices Risk Severity Detection Occurrence Risk Priority Number (RPN) HIV/AIDS 9 8 7 504 Bacterial STIs 8 6 6 288 Unwanted pregnancies 3 4 3 36 Viral infections 8 5 5 200 B: FMEA for drug/substance abuse Risk Severity Detection Occurrence Risk Priority Number (RPN) Health related complications to the brain, lungs kidney, liver 9 8 5 360 Aggression, depression, anxiety disorders 4 4 6 96 Convulsions, hallucinations, tremors, hyperactivity 5 4 5 100 Nausea, headaches, memory loss, muscle weakness 4 6 5 120 Read More