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Older African-Americans & Hiv

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1425 Nursing Care of Adults I Practicum

In partial fulfillment of course requirements.

Desmond Johnson, Jr.

October 3, 2010

Professor Donnovan

Greater Cincinnati Hospital
Johnson 2

Frances Jackson, PhD., RN
Kevin Early, CCJS, PhD.
Stephanie Myers Schim, PhD., RN.
Barbara Peprase, PhD., RN.

“HIV Knowledge, Perceived Seriousness and Susceptibility, and Risk Behaviors of Older African Americans”

Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health Johnson 3 Age presents a unique challenge for health care providers in that some relatively newer diseases may not be perceived the same in the elderly as it is in the younger population in general. The study produced by Frances Jackson et al. sheds an illuminating light on the perceptions of elderly African Americans as it relates to HIV/Aids. The District of Columbia has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the country and as nurses, we must continue to try to educate our citizens some of the lingering misconceptions about the disease. Indeed, knowledge in this instance, can be life saving. The study by Jackson et al. illustrates the enormity of the task at hand. The survey group included 155 useful responses to the 500 questionnaires mailed. The questionnaire was based on four themes: knowledge, seriousness, susceptibility and risk behaviors. According to Jackson, “older African Americans generally have a high level of knowledge about HIV but still believe that HIV can be acquired through casual contact and have other misinformation regarding transmission. Older African Americans believe that HIV/Aids is a serious disease but do not feel personally susceptible to acquiring it. There is widespread reluctance among African American men and women to using condoms. Despite risk behaviors, rates of HIV testing are low among older African Americans, particular African American men (Jackson, p. 60).” In the sample, the African American respondent’s comments about HIV/Aids indicated that they had fairly accurate information about the disease. However, as Johnson relates some comments confirmed that knowledge is necessary but not always sufficient to change behavior. It is incumbent upon the health care provider to always stress the need for behavioral modifications to reflect the patient’s expanding knowledge base as we continue to educate them as part of our client teaching. Although the survey group recognized the seriousness of the HIV/Aids, they did not relate it to susceptibility. This presents a challenge for patient educators because if our clients are knowledgeable but do not perceive a disease as threatening to them, they may not take it as serious as they should. Speaking of susceptibility, the older African Americans sampled did not feel particularly susceptible to HIV/Aids. Since, the disease was not around when they were growing up, they perceive it as more of a disease that younger generations are susceptible to. As one participant states, “Myself, I would be afraid for the younger people (Jackson, p.60).” Helping the elderly understand their susceptibility should be in the forefront of our minds as we attempt to discourage practices that would make this group more susceptible. Risk behaviors presents us with the most daunting of challenges in preventing the spread of HIV. Condom use, prostitution and drug use emerged as the most prevalent themes of this focus group. Perhaps, the single most effective way to prevent HIV transmission (other than abstinence) is through condom use. The study reflects that there is widespread reluctance to condom use between African American men and women. Furthermore, testing rates were very low for this group. This is of particular concern because if a person contracts the disease, life prolonging drug treatments can begin. Overall, the Jackson et al. study will be very helpful for me when it comes to patient education as it relates to the elderly African American population in general and HIV transmission in particular. It displays a continuing need to further disseminate
Johnson 4 information about the disease to this group taking into consideration some misconceptions they may have always, of course, with respect to cultural considerations. With infections rates rising, we must seem to stem the flow of false information and give the patient the most up to date and relevant information for their optimal well being.
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