HIV and AIDS Prevention - Essay Example

HIV/AIDS Prevention It would not be a mistake to point out that HIV and AIDS should be regarded as the most important obstacles on the way of global development. That is why there is a considerable amount of effort that is directed at combating them. Over the decades, the humanity was able to work out numerous prevention strategies the effectiveness of which varied. This paper will critically evaluate condom distribution strategy that is aimed to reduce the number of HIV instances in the world. To begin with, it must be noted that condom distribution targets one particular mode of HIV transmission, namely through sexual intercourse. It was found that various sexual behaviors together have the second highest risk rate which equals to 161 instances per 10,000 (“HIV Transmission Risk”). Blood transfusion is surely the highest (9,250 per 10,000) while the third highest risk factor has a rating that is more than two time lower than sexual intercourse: injection drug use is reported to have 63 instances per 10,000 (“HIV Transmission Risk”). Keeping in mind that there are more people who have sexual intercourse a day than those who have blood transfusion, one would make no mistake suggesting that sexual mode of transmission prevails. All this results in the fact that the issue of HIV and AIDS is strongly associated with sex; however, the public should make an important reservation: it is unprotected sex that is the riskiest activity when it comes to dealing with the virus in question. In other words, a person may be perfectly save if one uses a condom, does not have blood transfusion and does not inject drugs. It is suggested that the target population that is at the highest risk is men who have sex with men and female sex workers (“HIV & AIDS in Thailand”). Thus, the former group as at the highest risk since anal sex is practiced by than which has the highest risk of transmitting HIV which is 141 instances per 10,000 exposures (“HIV Transmission Risk”). As for female sex workers, they are often engaged in sexual intercourse without a condom which leads to high risk of exposure. The above mentioned risk behaviors present challenges for HIV prevention because of the following reasons. First of all, men who have sex with men prefer anal sex over oral sex which makes their sexual intercourse the riskiest and they are not willing to use condoms because of the negative influence that is has on sensual aspect of it. As for female sex workers, thier client may be willing to avoid using condom for the same reason. It is quite understandable that when it comes to commercial sex, safety or consequences are the last what clients think about. Nevertheless, this activity might be seen as the major source of spreading the virus on the society. The prevention strategy is focused on free of charge distribution of condoms, equipping various facilities with it, conducting behavioral interventions such as providing information, counseling, reducing stigma and empowering people (“HIV Prevention Programmes”). The rationale behind these actions can be easily explained. To begin with, spread of information about HIV is extremely important since there are numerous people in the developing countries who do not even know the basics about HIV and AIDS. Secondly, in case of female sex workers, facilities where they work should be able to provide them with condoms without any restriction so that the former would be able to avoid being infected by HIV. Finally, in many countries those who are infected by the virus in question are being marginalized and are not able to live a full social life. Nowadays, with the developed technology of production, making condoms that will be distributed free of charge will not constitute a significant commercial burden. In other words, the world may be willing to pay a small price in money in stead of HIV or AIDS epidemic which will take lives. The issue of race, class, gender as well as social inequality should be taken into account while considering the situation in question. Thus, HIV is primarily spread among people who live outside Europe which means that races other than black are at more risk of developing it. Secondly, those who come from lower classes are at risk of being infected since, on the one hand, they may not be able to afford using condoms and, on the other hand, might be engaged in sex work. Men and women are almost equally at risk with regard to HIV. As one can easily see, due to economic inequality of the world as well as patriarchic organization of society, the issue of HIV and AIDS has become the problem of the countries which are located on the periphery of the world and it mostly affects women and homosexuals – parts of the population that often have to comply with the view of the majority. The evidence shows that condom distribution was able to achieve great results all over the world. For example, in the Sub Saharan countries the number of instances of continuous use of using condoms during sex rose by at least twenty five per cent (“Making condoms work for HIV prevention”). This shows that people are eager to accept new way of fight HIV and are willing to participate in the programs. It would not be an exaggeration that the population that are most affected by the issue in question always wanted to put an end to it, but simply were not able to allocate the necessary resources. As one can easily see, condom distribution programs should be considered to be effective because it targets the mode of transmission that is known to be prevailing and it is aimed at people who are often engaged in various risk behaviors such as men who have sex with men and female sex workers. Keeping in mind the figures that show the success of this program over the recent years, one would make no mistake suggesting that it will surely have a positive impact on the issue in question in future. References HIV Prevention Programmes. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.avert.org/hiv-prevention-programmes.htm HIV Transmission Risk. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/policies/law/risk.html Making condoms work for HIV prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://data.unaids.org/Publications/IRC-pub06/jc941-cuttingedge_en.pdf Read More