...stigmatisation and how it has effect on a person affected by HIV or AIDS. Firstly will introduce brief history of HIV/AID and will then look at the issues faces the stigma within the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. The first recognized of epidemic HIV/AIDS were in the early 1980s, where the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection spread to every country in the world. Statistics show that approximately 40 million people are currently living with HIV infection, and an estimated 25 million have died from this disease. The HIV has been particularly demoralizing in sub Saharan Africa and South Africa, however infection rates in some other countries still remain high. In the United States, approximately 1 million people are currently infected. HIV is one of a group of viruses known as retroviruses. After getting into the body, the virus kills or damages cells of the body's immune system. The body tries to keep up by making new cells or trying to contain the virus, but eventually the HIV wins out and gradually destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancer, National Health Service (NHS 2012). AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) It is caused by HIV and arise when the virus has destroyed so much of the body's defences that immune cell counts fall to vital levels or certain life threatening infections or cancers develop, (NHS,2012). When Nelson Mandela was addressing a conference in 2002, he stated HIV/AIDS has killed people more than any war. It has continued...
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... AIDS Stigma in the United States Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS is a widespread disease in the United States that affects millions of people. There are a myriad of issues facing people with AIDS. One pervasive matter is the one of stigma associated with the illness. In some cases, the stigma is as devastating as the effects of the illness itself. HIV was first diagnosed in the United States in the 1980’s and since then has become an epidemic. AIDS is described as a severely decreased immunity to infections and malignancies. Once a person is diagnosed with HIV it may take months or years to get to the point of AIDS. The stigma of AIDS prevails as one of the leading challenges facing the people infected. Discrimination, abuse, mistreatment, shunning, and prejudice are some of the ways that people diagnosed with the disease are treated. The discrimination may be displayed by family members, peers, co-workers, healthcare providers as well as the general public. (“HIV & AIDS Stigma”, 2014). From where does the stigma arise? It emerges from various places. Societal fears such as that of catching the disease along with their personal beliefs of how the disease is spread, is one prominent thought among groups in society. Some of these beliefs are that only people whom are gay, drug users, or prostitutes can contract this disease. These groups...
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...Issues Confronting ‘Them’ (People with HIV/AIDS) The issues confronting ‘them’—a metaphor society uses to refer to people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is not only a physical health crisis but also a social crisis that has and continues to affect every sector of the United States. Accompanying the disease is an acute fear in society that fosters gross assumptions and a lack of education about AIDS. . Because social issues confronting the HIV population presents a series of critical civil rights problems, it is imperative that individuals living with HIV/AIDS are aware of their civil rights as well as know the resources to advocate for themselves when a provider threatens their rights. National legal organizations, like the ACLU AIDS Project is available to enforce their civil rights through litigation, public education, and legislative advocacy (America Civil Liberties Union, 2009). The main social iniquities attached to HIV are those of stigma and discrimination. Social stigmatism toward persons with HIV/AIDS is an infliction of suffering, which thwarts any attempts to fight the AIDS epidemic. Stigma, as a form of social control is a means to marginalize, set limitations, and exercise power over individuals who society considers different through certain characteristics. Social stigma rejects the social groups associated with HIV, (e.g. homosexuals, illegal drug users, sex workers (Bardj, 2012)...
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...Annotated Bibliography Bianca Meza, Huiling Jiang Judith Meisner, Sholanda Key NUR 440 April 15, 2013 Mrs. Mendez Annotated Bibliography AIDS.gov. (2012). How do you get HIV or AIDS? Retrieved from http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/how-you-get-hiv-aids/index.html. This website is an excellent resource for information about HIV and AIDS. It gives basic information about HIV and AIDS, treatment options, community resources, and other valuable information that people can access. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Basic information about HIV/AIDS. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.html. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is another excellent resource for disease conditions and their treatment. The information provided on HIV and AIDS is well written and very informational for the public and healthcare provider alike. The ease of use is important and appreciated. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, December 2). Vital Signs: HIV prevention through care and treatment. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 60 (47),1618-1623. This comprehensive journal article reviews recent HIV testing and prevalence patterns among the U.S. population. The importance of the care continuum for HIV-positive patients is discussed; from prevention and testing, to diagnosis and treatment. Strategies for viral suppression among those infected are also reviewed. The article presents...
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...HIV in Philippines HIV (Human immune deficiency syndrome) is the causing factor for the sexually transmitted disease AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).HIV virus makes the Immune System weakened that result in making the body suspect able and vulnerable to many diseases. When the immune System is weakened the body becomes vulnerable to make diseases. (UNAIDS 2012). The HIV epidemic in the Philippines has been rapidly changing in the past 5 years. The first case of HIV in the Philippines was reported in 1984. During the 30 year time span, the HIV situation has been constantly growing although the prevalence remains well under 1%, at a low 0.04%. The government is trying its level best to make AIDS extinct through education and prevention. Moreover, the cases of HIV are increasing at an exponential rate, so there is a need to give serious attention to the problem. From one new case every three days in year 2000, to one new case every three hours by the end of 2011 (UNAIDS 2012). Those who engage in risky behaviors such as, performing unprotected sex with several partners or intravenous drug users are at risk the most and can possible result in death. Number of infections old and new While the number of cases of HIV has declined substantially in many areas in the world, countries like the Philippines are experiencing the opposite. According to UNAIDS 2012 there were approximately 15,000 people living with HIV. The Philippines is one of the only two countries in Asia...
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...depending on the biological processes and environmental interactions. People living with HIVAIDS have specific psycho social issues they deal with. It is important to understand that the mind and the emotions have impact on their immune system and quality of life. Psychosocial support is an intervention that enhances the wellbeing of a person affected by life threatening events. Being healthy in this context is much more than the mere absence of disease or infirmity. A healthy person is the one who; * is socially integrated and accepted, has friends and a social network, and has a recognised and acceptable social status in the community * is socially competent; which means that he/she is able to cooperate with others and can also deal with pain, tension and conflicts * Can express feelings, has good self esteem and is confident, can manage stress and is able to make decisions. HIV disease is among the most devastating of illnesses, having multiple and profound effects upon all aspects of the bio-psychosocial and spiritual being. HIV as an illness affects the person first and foremost at the biological level in the form of an aggressive virus that compromises immunity. Every illness experience represents a unique and dramatic negative experience for the patient; it is associated with a profound and authentic psychological engagement of patients themselves and the significant people in their lives. According to a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scientist, Psychosocial...
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...HIV/AIDS is a devastating disease that has killed thousands of people all over the world. It is one of the most widespread and devastating epidemics we are currently dealing with. Many factors about this virus contribute to making it spread faster, become deadlier, and leaves no one unaffected. HIV/AIDS reaches the young and the old, the rich and the poor, and those in developed and undeveloped countries. Education about the virus and how it is approached to different people also affects how it is spread, several cultural factors come into play as to how effective it is in preventing future contraction of the virus. The cultural perceptions of the virus also affect how the virus is researched and how medicines are developed for it. Religion also plays a role in how the virus is spread and can have an impact on how those who are researching the disease research it. The spread of HIV/AIDS is affected by several factors the main ones being the approach of education taken, cultural perceptions of the disease, and religion. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized as a disease in 1981 (Kshatriya, 2005, pg. 69). Before 1981 it was found in the Caribbean and in African countries but it wasn’t until those first cases in the United States were diagnosed that the disease was officially recognized. HIV/AIDS exploded in America in the early 80’s, and initially they thought that AIDS was a “gay disease” and called it GRID standing for “gay related immune disease” (Lovell...
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...been much less destructive and extensive had it not been for the cultural stigma surrounding the disease, the lack of research and funding provided for the issue, and a U.S government that ignored the dire situation. Cultural Stigma: There are countless reasons why AIDS was so stigmatized during the pandemic, but the contraction of the disease through homosexual contact and drug use were the main reasons why the stigma...
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...Measuring Aids stigmas in people living with HIV/AIDS: the Internalized Aids-Related Stigma Scale. 1. Write a brief description and summary of your article. The objective is to measure the psychometric properties of instruments to measure Internalized Aids-Related Stigmas. This article talks about the psychometric measurement of people living with Internalized Aids Related Stigmas (IARS) and the effect that IARS has on communities and individuals. It reviews the notion that stigma is the real driver of poor uptake of testing and treatment services. 2. What type of research method was used to collect data for this study? Data was collected through 3 cities/countries. Men and woman diverse in ages, race and culture were recruited from medical centers in these cities/countries. Questions on the surveys covered age, race employment, marital status, hospitalization and the year and month they were tested positive. Items were selected from the IARS scale (Kalichman 2005) and reframed and reworded to show negative self-perceptions in being a person living with HIV/Aids. The question were answered with 1 = agree and 0 = disagree. The higher scores representing Internalized Stigma. 3. Why do you think the researchers chose this method for this study? The article focuses on the methodology of measuring IARS scale. The objective of these structures is to create and validate the items to measure IARS. The method has been used before and has proven to be consistent...
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...HIV Disclosure to Sexual Partners an Ethics Study Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a prominent disease in the United States today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately fifty thousand Americans will be newly diagnosed with HIV this year alone (Basic Statistics, 2014). Although HIV can be transmitted in several ways the most common ways are via sexual transmission or intravenous drug use. Therefore there has always been a stigma attached to HIV – even for those who are in the health profession. A nurse who has been in this vocation for twenty years will probably be able to tell you of a nurse who refused to take care of an HIV patient. Nursing has come a long way since the 1980s, when HIV became known. However, there are still issues that a nurse may face today. One of these issues is when a newly diagnosed HIV patient has a significant other. Should a nurse, knowing the potential devastating consequences of HIV, tell a patient’s sexual partner about their HIV status? This paper will discuss, the legal, moral and ethical ramifications of HIV disclosure. It will weigh the pros and cons of a nurse revealing this information, and it will provide recommendations for nurses who encounter this issue during their practice. It is understandable that a nurse may feel perplexed about this ethical dilemma. Once someone is diagnosed with HIV, they will have the disease for the rest of their lives. Currently there is not a cure. Although...
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...Cooper How HIPAA Violations Affect the Medical Billing Process Part Two The global HIV/AIDS pandemic is the worst infectious disease crisis to confront the world since the bubonic plaque halved the population of Europe in the five years after its arrival in 1347. To date, 22 million people have died of AIDS worldwide; another 36 million live with HIV/AIDS today (Fhi360.org). HIV/AIDS is a difficult topic to talk about and even more difficult is the confidentiality that is involved. Many people are hesitant to discuss it with anyone bedides their loved ones. One has to ensure that it stays confidential, and anyone who is not supposed to know should be made aware that it is not to be shared with anyone else. According to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, it is supposed to protect peoples’ private health information. According to CDC.gov, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) attempts to address some of the barriers to healthcare coverage and related job mobility indepediments facing people with HIV as well as other vulnerable populations. There are certain guidelines that aim to ensure that the confidentiality of people living with HIV/AIDS is not compromised when collecting and storing information about the disease. It provides principles, definitions and technical recommendations to maintain confidentiality, privacy and security when working with HIV-related information. Ensuring this information is securely stored and confidentiality maintained...
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...“Out of 34 Million HIV positive people worldwide 69%, live in Sub-Saharan Africa. More than one million adults and children die every year from HIV/Aids in africa alone. Sub-Saharan Africa has the most critical HIV and AIDS epidemic in the world. In 2013, an estimated 24.7 million people were living with HIV, accounting for 71% of the global total. In the same year, there were an estimated 1.5 million new HIV infections and 1.1 million AIDS-related deaths. I believe that people with HIV/Aids that are patients, shouldn’t be discriminated, because of their disease. “ Congress has passed a series of federal laws to protect people living with HIV/AIDS from being discriminated”. In the early 1990s, an AIDS activist made a speech to the Republican...
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...Persuasive Letter Week 6 Course NUR 405 July 9, 2012 Professor Sandra Winters To The Funding Agency for HIV/AIDS: There are many low socio-economic communities in Miami-Dade County that have a certain thing in common; these communities are plagued with co-morbid health issues. Prevalent in one particular community is the instance of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses among 18-24 year olds, according to Sigma Theta Tau initiatives and the United Nations, one goal is to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. A few of these goals are By 2015, halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and by 2010, achieve universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all of those who need it (http://www.nursingsociety.org). In order for this goal to be realized, it is up to us as nurses within these communities to provide proper education and preventative care, but resources are needed. According to Hope for Miami, Miami-Dade has the 4th highest HIV/AIDS rate of all major US cities and the highest teen pregnancy rate in Florida. Many small non-profit agencies are eager to help those in need but often don’t have the capacity or resources to effectively do so (http://www.fcfcfl.org). In order to provide this community with care, we have to make attempts to get rid of the health inequity. During a windshield survey around this community many signs of decay were noticed and among these dilapidated structures stood many young mothers with children and many unemployed persons. Many...
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...Introduction The scale of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic has exceeded all expectations since its identification over 20 years ago. The worst of the epidemic is centred on sub-Saharan Africa. But just as the spread of HIV has been greater than predicted, so too has been its impact on social capital, population structure and economic growth. Responding to AIDS on a scale commensurate with the epidemic is a global imperative, and the tools for an effective response are known. Nothing less than a sustained social mobilization is necessary to combat one of the most serious crises facing human development. Most recent findings show that HIV prevalence in the population is currently slightly on the down side in the case of Kenya . This not withstanding, given the massive scale of the problem and the concentration of effects on adults of prime working age, the pandemic has sharply influenced a host of economic and non-economic variables. In this paper I will review some of the available literature on the impact of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS has impacted several areas of society: 1. The family or the household 2. The Health sector 3. The work place 4. The economy 5. Stigma 1. The Impact on the Family/Household In almost all cases the first victim of HIV/AIDS is the immediate family. More often than not it is the poorest sector of the society that is most vulnerable to this epidemic. There will be an upsurge of medical bills...
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...(determinants) may be contributing to or causing the problem? A socio-ecological assessment is critical in an intervention aimed at such an immense problem. In HIV/AIDS, many different factors at many levels form the context, interact, and come into play. Individual factors: Individual factors that contribute to HIV/AIDS include having multiple sexual partners, sexually transmitted diseases, not using a condom and not circumcising males (Auvert et al, 2001). Individual behaviour is largely determined by the social environment, such as community norms and values, regulations, and policies. Societal factor: Systemic discrimination. Stigma and discrimination also influence the spread of HIV/AIDS. Stigma creates barriers to the uptake of interventions to prevent HIV infection, treat it and give support to people living with the disease (Klein, Karchner & O'Connel, 2002; Hamra, Ross, Orrs & D’Agosrino, 2006, Parker & Aggleton, 2003). Issues such as promiscuity, homosexuality and blame tend to prevent people from disclosing their HIV status and seeking care. Prejudice against people with HIV/AIDS may mean people are denied their right to care. Interventions aimed at HIV/AIDS need to consider where there may be prejudice and how stigma-related factors interact at various levels. Socioeconomic and political factors: Inequities. HIV/AIDS is increasingly concentrated in the poorest and most marginalized societies (Kumaranayake & Watts, 1999; Buve, Kalibala & McIntyre, 2003). Studies among...
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