...| Disparity of Healthcare for AIDS/HIV Patients | Lana Iris English 12312/15/14 | Disparity of Healthcare with Patients with AIDS/HIV For the last thirty years AIDS/HIV has been a controversial topic, but more recently, the disease itself has not been controversial but the disparity in receiving proper care both in prevention modalities and active treatment for the disease. While the Obama administration has taken steps toward the elimination of these disparities through the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Implementation Plan, there is still much work to be done. This brief highlights underexplored explanations for these disparities and outlines possible solutions to begin addressing them. Oftentimes, popular culture has offered unfortunately erroneous explanations for the stark racial disparate impact of HIV/ AIDS. The mass media, for example, has suggested that black men “on the down low” infect black women by secretly sleeping with male partners, acting as a bisexual “bridge” between gay and straight communities. But public health scholars have found little support for this theory. Many may assume that black people suffer from greater HIV prevalence because they are considered less sexually responsible than whites. Yet several studies have shown that black women and black men who have sex with men—the two groups most severely impacted by HIV/AIDS—have similar numbers of sexual partners and use condoms as often as their white counterparts. Thus, behavioral risk factors...
Words: 5868 - Pages: 24
...Should Aids Victims Be Ostracized I strongly disagree with the moot. AIDS, or the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome has been one of the most threatening diseases of the 20th century. Ever since it has been discovered in 1981, it has been constantly infecting men, women, adults, newly born children, homosexuals and heterosexuals. In definition AIDS is an extremely serious disorder that results from severe damage to the body s defense against disease. Even though AIDS was born in an era of sophisticated medical and surgical developments, it still remains incurable. The ways through which the HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, can be transmitted are: blood transfusion, contaminated needles used in drug addiction, from an infected husband to his wife through sexual intercourse, or from an infected mother to her new born baby during pregnancy. Because it is that much spread and so far incurable, AIDS has aroused a lot hysterical fears and a number of controversies and ethical questions related to the patient s rights, doctor s rights and the right of the public at large. While some people think that AIDS patients should be isolated in quarantines, alienated from the rest of the world, others find no reason in this harsh form of separation and discrimination against the infected patients. The patients must also have the right to lead a normal life that must be respected by all the public, and government too. Although AIDS is not more contagious than any other disease, its patients...
Words: 1584 - Pages: 7
...EBP Searchable Clinical Questions Graded Assignment #2 1. Clinical Question: In patients with AIDS, what is the average life expectancy among those who take single antiretroviral drugs versus those who do the aggressive Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)? P = Patients with AIDS I = HAART C = single antiretroviral drug O = maximum life expectancy The reason I chose HIV/AIDS as a topic of study is that I strongly believe that treatment interventions can eliminate the belief that the diagnosis is a death sentence. I have also worked with patients with HIV/AIDS. When patients with HIV develop AIDS, it is important for them to know what treatment options are available to them. As of now, the treatment options are extreme. They entail the administration of antiretroviral drugs that are often used alone depending on the needs of the patient. Antiretroviral “Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the replication of the HIV virus in the body,” (AIDS, 2011). However, the use of combination therapy and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are becoming increasingly common in the treatment of AIDS. HAART has the potential to be “very effective in reducing the number of HIV particles in the bloodstream,” (AIDS, 2011). However, these are extreme interventions that require the full cooperation not just of patient but of the entire medical team. Patients taking HAART need to be closely, caringly, and conscientiously monitored for side effects....
Words: 770 - Pages: 4
...HIV/AIDS Summary HIV/AIDS is the leading disease in America. This epidemic is causing millions of dollars to help and treat patients that are positively tested with HIV/AIDS. There are four different methods, HIV exposure, infections, diagnosis, AIDS diagnosis, and then there is death of HIV/AIDS. There are more than one million Americans living in today’s society that has this disease that is fatal to a human body. Even though HIV/AIDS has been the largest epidemic for the last 30 years, there has been highly active retro viral therapy that has been reducing the number of patients that test positive. In the 1990’s whites were up in number, now they are decreasing as in the blacks were down and now they are increasing in number. Even though there is a race ethnicity towards HIV/AIDS patients there is still others that offer up the transmitted disease such as men having sex with men, heterosexual, and the injection drug. Age can define the importance of having the disease as well. Starting at the age of 13 and up until 50; there are still chances to get HIV but the chances decrease the older you get. Looking at this epidemic in different regions of the United States has many concerns over the cases that are from Southern compared to other states in the country (Jen Kates, 2014). Medicaid, Medicare, Ryan White, and others are consumers for HIV/AIDS patients. The number one leading federal funding for HIV/AIDS is the Medicaid. There are over 200 thousand patients with low...
Words: 374 - Pages: 2
...1. Introduction Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, also known as AIDS, is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).HIV damages body’s immune system by destroying white blood cells which help us to destroy invaded pathogens. When HIV enters a white blood cell, it may remain dormant. However, once it is activated, it infects another cell to produce many new HIVS. After a certain period of time, the white blood cells are destroyed and leading to a loss of function of the immune system (Y.K. Ho,2004). People infected by HIV will turn out to have AIDS. Infected people are very weak to fight off other infectious disease and soon they will die. According to the data and statistics of WHO, global summary of the AIDS epidemic, 2009, the number of people living with HIV is around 33.3 million and AIDS death in 2009 is around 1.8 million. How about China situation? We couldn’t find much data about China situation. Therefore, we have to explore the situation from other sources. 2. Current Situation of AIDS in China According to the ministry of health of the people’s republic of China, the number of people living with AIDS is about 370 thousand and AIDS death is about 60 thousand. The figure is much different from the prediction of United Nations (UN), UN predicted that there will be 10 million people living with AIDS at the end of 2010. So, which figure is more reliable? I would suggest the UN one and the following is my reason. In the early 1990s, the Chinese leadership...
Words: 2625 - Pages: 11
...Aids a Communicable Disease Aids a Communicable Disease Communicable disease is an illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products that arises through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected person, animal or inanimate reservoir to a susceptible host; either directly or indirectly through an intermediate plant or animal host, vector or the inanimate environment (UCLA, 2011). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a communicable disease that has become a global epidemic. This paper will give the reader a description of the disease, demographic of interest, describe the determinants of health, the epidemiologic triangle as it relates to AIDS. This paper will also discuss the role of community health nurse and organizations that have made an impact on AIDS education and research. The first report of AIDS in medical literature was in 1981 at this time AIDS was known as a disease associated with being gay, this quickly changed when further research revealed a transfusion recipient had been diagnosed as well as an infant in 1982 (UCSF, 2003). The cause of AIDS comes from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which destroys CD4 cells this weakens the bodies immune system, a patient could have HIV for many years before it progresses to AIDS. A person is considered to be infected with AIDS when their CD4 count falls below 200 or they show any of the following symptoms: * Tuberculosis * Cryptosporidiosis * Pneumocystis pneumonia ...
Words: 1487 - Pages: 6
...In my paper regarding communicable diseases I choose to discus HIV/AIDS. In this paper I will discuss HIV, and the different ways HIV is transmitted, to the many complications that are associated with HIV, and discuss how community health nurses can help patients develop a plan for managing the disease process. I will also refer to an agency that can help nurses gather data they need to treat patients physically, and emotionally, as well as resources for patients to refer to when they feel like they need questions answered to their questions. According to (AIDS.GOV) “HIV” stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. I will discuss what each letter represents: H – Human – This virus can only infect human beings. I – Immunodeficiency – HIV weakens your immune system by killing off vital cells that help fight the disease and infection. A weakened immune system cannot protect the host or human like it should be able to. V – Virus – A virus can only replicate over and over by invading a cell within the body of its host. HIV is similar to other viruses, such as the flu or the common cold. The biggest difference is that in time, our immune system can destroy most of the viruses in our bodies. With HIV the body’s immune system can't eradicate the virus. In turn once a patient is diagnosed with HIV they have it for the rest of their natural life. Like many viruses, HIV can lay dormant for extended periods of time in the cells of your body that attacks a key part of your immune system, the...
Words: 1613 - Pages: 7
...and health information would be protected; Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA. Among other things this act ensured that a person’s health would remain private and secure from the public and that the patients had a say so as to whom would be able to know their information and just how much of it (Green & Bowie, 2005). This act has help those with HIV and AIDS remain safe within the communities they reside; without this act they could be discriminated or ousted even more than they are. For those with these diseases their lives could be ruined if not for HIPAA; one to the best acts of the Clinton administration. The Difference Before it can be understood why this information should be covered with such privacy there needs to be an understanding of the two diseases. Simply put Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is a type of retrovirus that attacks healthy body cells; therefore, making it harder to fight off any type of virus. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS is severe infections cause by HIV cases. Just because a person is HIV positive, this does not mean that they will contract AIDS. This is possible, due to drug combination from two different classes of drugs to control HIV and stopping it from turning into AIDS. However, HIV is still very contagious and the positive person must make life style changes to ensure there is not further spreading of the disease but they can pursue the same happiness as everyone else (Mayo Clinic, 2012)...
Words: 1527 - Pages: 7
...HIV/ AIDS What is AIDS ? It is a pandemic disease. AIDS cannot be compared to disease like malaria and cholera which claim more live in country currently. It has a greater impact than other disease. The treatment options are still in the initial stages and are prohibitively expensive. There are instances of quacks taking advantage of the situation. This has compounded the misery of AIDS patients. History of HIV AIDS: It was first noticed in USA in 1981. The American and French scientist independently identified the AIDS virus 1984. The virus first named as HCLV III ( Human cell leukemia virus III). The name (Human cell leukemia deficiency virus) is now preferred. It now seems that HIV first passed into human from chimpanzees by eating butchered chimps. 10% of the people, who get AIDS virus infection, actually develop full blown AIDS. Causes of HIV/AIDS HIV is a retrovirus capable of rapid mutation that produces a latent infection that develops over a long period. To infect a human, HIV must attach to specific host cells known as CD4 cells, which are responsible for regulating the immune system. Once it has occupied a host cell, the virus copies the DNA of the cell, rendering it invisible to the body's defense system. The virus replicates itself within the cells, producing numerous virus particles that bud from the surface of the cell, destroying the cell and moving on to attach to another CD4 cell. For several weeks or months after initial infection the patient...
Words: 1179 - Pages: 5
...Tina M Thompson Grand Canyon University: Concepts in Community Health Nursing NRS- 427V March 25, 2015 Abstract HIV and AIDS is a relatively new disease. It started making news in the 1980’s and quickly became front page news. This was a disease that appeared out of nowhere and starting killing people by the thousands. Never before had we seen a disease that was so deadly. We didn’t know what caused it, how it was spread, or if there was any way to treat it. Those were definitely very frightening times. Now, thirty years later we have a few of those answers. We are going to look at this disease, what causes it, how it’s spread, treatments, complications, and who is affected. Unfortunately we won’t be discussing how it’s cured, at least not yet….. History HIV and AIDS first made an appearance in the 1980’s and proceeded to change the world as we knew it. When it burst onto the scene it was “their” disease. Who were “they”? “They” were homosexuals and drug addicts who shared needles. HIV had already been discovered in Africa and of course we heard about it on the news, but it didn’t really affect us here in the United States so it wasn’t our problem. Right…. When the news broke that famous actor and sex symbol Rock Hudson had AIDS everyone was shocked. How was that possible?? Rock Hudson wasn’t a junkie and he certainly wasn’t gay, so how could this happen? That was the worlds wake up call. What Is HIV? Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is...
Words: 1715 - Pages: 7
...Rhonda Hogan HCR/220 Fonzette Mixon April 3, 2011 HIV and AIDS affect millions of people worldwide. Some of these people have HIV, only testing positive, whereas others already are diagnosed with AIDS. Still others who have not yet been diagnosed at all may be suffering inside and have no idea he or she is inflicted with this horrible disease. Confidentiality becomes more sensitive when interacting with HIV or AIDS patients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the law that was enacted “in response to growing concerns about individual’s health information potentially being used inappropriately, causing barriers to health care coverage, and related job mobility impediments” (Biel-Cunningham, 2003). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is exactly what it states, an immunodeficiency (HIV) turned syndrome that is acquired. In other words, AIDS is caused by and acquired from HIV. The virus enters the body, via blood, semen, or an infected mother during birth, whereby attaches onto T-cells while working to grow inside. After replicating and destroying the T-cell, the virus moves onto other healthy T-cells until they have been taken over. Once enough T-cells are destroyed, the person’s immune system no longer functions. When acquiring a serious infection, the body’s lack of fight for the infection is because of an extreme low T-cell count, and a diagnosis of AIDS will be determined. As far back as the Hippocratic Oath, physicians...
Words: 1584 - Pages: 7
...Study of the rates of co-infection of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in Urbanized regions within Sub-Saharan Africa Sistla Sumanth Introduction: Airborne communication of mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for the evolution of primary tuberculosis (TB) in immunostable and immunocomprimsed patients (Aaron, et al. 2004). In 1993, the center for disease control classification identified that TB was the defining illness in HIV infected patients, as it is typically the first symptom bearing illness to afflict the patient (Aaron, et al. 2004). TB cases have dramatically increased in the global setting in recent, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, illustrating the sensitivity of HIV infected patients to this co-infection. TB results from a pathogenic infection caused primarily by M. tuberculosis, and seldom Mycobacterium bovis; the infiltration of the bacterium into the respiratory tract leads to the infection of the macrophages and cytotoxic cells debilitating intracellular growth (Aaron, et al. 2004). The risk of HIV infected patients to succumb due to the co-infection of tuberculosis and HIV is twice that of patients only infected with HIV (Aaron, et al. 2004). A 1997 estimate suggests that atleast 10.7million people were co-infected with HIV and M. tuberculosis; more than 30% of TB cases in Africa are also infected with HIV (Aaron, et al. 2004) showing the susceptibility of co-infection in immunocompromised patients. Those living in Sub-Saharan Africa are...
Words: 2369 - Pages: 10
...for food, humans would come in contact with infected blood, which is believed to be the leading cause of the communicable disease. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can be transmitted through sexually active individuals, blood transfusions, sharing of needles, through pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Infections may be transmitted through semen, infected blood, or vaginal secretions, which also has a possibility to become Acquire Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in some individuals (Mayo Clinic, 2014). HIV Symptoms and Treatment Patients who are infected with Human Immunodeficiency Transmission (HIV), may not experience symptoms for up to ten years. With susceptibility to the disease, individuals are able to spread the disease without realizing they have acquired the illness. Symptoms developed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) include: Diarrhea, fatigue, fever, vaginal yeast infections, headaches, mouth sores, muscle stiffness, rashes, sore throats, and swollen lymph glands (New York Times, 2014). In order to test for patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), scientists test for ELISA or the Western blot tests that search for antibodies in the patient’s blood that relate to the virus (New York Times, 2014). With positive results for the antibodies to present in the bloodstream, healthcare providers will test further to see the locations of the antibodies. If the test is presented to show negative...
Words: 1384 - Pages: 6
...AIDS/HIV Demographic Case Summary Michael Eiden January 9, 2012 n Abstract Health care in the United States is impacted by numerous demographic populations such as individuals with chronic diseases; such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes etc. Long term care patients, the uninsured and Emergency management also have a significant impact on health care system. But none of these demographic populations has the impact on health care in the United States as individuals with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, better known as HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS impacts virtually every community in the U.S. and around the world. Almost everyone has been affected in some way by this preventable but incurable disease. The disease can be managed to some extent but at a high cost. AIDS/HIV Demographic Case Summary Population Demographics and Origins of HIV/AIDS According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates there are believed to be more than 1.5 million individuals living with HIV in the United States as of 2011 (CDC, 2011). The earliest known case of HIV was detected in a blood sample collected in 1959 from a Kinshasa man of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. How he became infected is unknown. It is not precisely known how the disease entered into the United States, but it is believed to have been around 1969 or so. In the early 80’s Doctors in various large cities on both coasts began seeing young gay men for Kaposi’s sarcoma; a cancer associated with...
Words: 1460 - Pages: 6
...additional vectors. This virus is also be transmitted via contact with blood that contains the virus, transferred during pregnancy from mother to fetus, during childbirth, and breast-feeding. The virus can also be transmitted via intravenous needle sharing (Mayo; 2012). HIV damages the host’s immune system, ultimately interfering with the body’s natural defenses to fight infections that cause disease. In many cases, the infected individual goes years without the knowledge of being infected. Populations at higher risk for acquiring/transmitting HIV are primarily men who have sexual intercourse with other men (MSM). The group most seriously affected by the disease are young black/African American MSM. Left untreated, HIV will progress into AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), in which complete failure of the immune system occurs, placing the host at fatally high risk for infection. Most recent statistics on HIV are staggering at best, with an estimated 1.144m persons in America alone age thirteen and older are currently living with HIV, including an estimated 181k who are unaware of the presence of infection (CDC; 2013). In the most recent decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of people living with HIV, largely in part to new medications slowing the progression of the disease. Although the estimated new cases has remained relatively constant in recent years (approximately fifty-thousand new cases reported annually), with young MSM African Americans still...
Words: 1640 - Pages: 7
