4113 project dr rocal
HIV/AIDS 9
Project Proposal: Awareness on HIV/AIDS in South American States
Dayana Lewandowski
Florida International University
Introduction to the Problem
Introduction to the Problem
Problem to be addressed. The first cases of AIDS in the United States were reported in New Yolk City and Los Angeles in 1981, but since then the epicenter of the country's HIV epidemic has shifted to the District of Columbia and the 16 states that make up the South, from urban centers. Today, the South is the most affected region and carries the greatest burden of HIV illnesses, deaths, and infection than any other region in the U.S, Rosenberg et al. (2015) reports.
Problem subtopic. Southern states alone account for 44 percent of all individuals infected with HIV in the U.S; surprisingly the region has approximately one-third of the overall population in the U.S. Southern states experience internal disparities due to their geographical position. The majority of people living with HIV live in urban areas just like the rest of the nation, Abara et al. (2015).
Possible Causes and Maintaining Forces
Cause. Unique socioeconomic factors in the South are the primary cause of the heavy burden of HIV. Poverty, poorer health facilities, income inequality, have been more prevalent in the Southern states than the rest of the country. These conditions are not unique to HIV and, overall, the populations in the region have long experienced poorer health outcomes. Among the health challenges are higher rates of diabetes, cancer, obesity as well as infant mortality compared to other areas, Hall et al. (2015) highlight.
Cause. Cultural factors and social barriers also contribute to worsening HIV infection in the South of the United States. Issues such as transphobia, homophobia, racism as well as a lack of openness in discussing sexuality in public are more common in the South, and they result in higher levels of stigma, limiting people's willingness to look for HIV testing, prevention, and care services. The challenges also restrict access to sexual health information which is critical to enable individuals to protect themselves from infection, according to Reif et al. (2015). Many people in South America are fearful or ignorant of HIV. Transgender women and men who have sex with men face high levels of discrimination and stigma putting them at risk of homicide and crimes. Since 2008, about 1,200 transgender individuals have been killed in South America. Furthermore, 44-70 percent of transgender women have expressed the need to relocate or were thrown out of their homes (Skarbinski et al., 2015).
Why the problem persists. The South experiences higher HIV diagnosis rates in rural and suburban areas that other regions countrywide. In this case, there are various drawbacks to HIV prevention efforts in this area, Abara et al. (2015) comments.
Why the problem persists. Compared to other regions, many Southerners living with HIV are not aware that they are infected. Additionally, many Southerners living with HIV do not receive timely medical treatment or care or get their virus suppressed; a significant number still are missing out on the chance to avoid transmitting HIV to their partners and preserve their health, Meade et al. (2015) argue.
Background and Justification
Prior attempts and previously proposed solutions. Internationally, extensive research has been performed concerning the science of HIV and aids, prevention measures as well as treatment of the disease. In 2015, for instance, the United States alone spent an approximate of $16.8 billion on research, treatment as well as prevention of illness; $26 billion was used internationally for the same purposes. Though the cure for HIV has not yet been established, treatment has significantly improved since the half of the 1990s. HIV-positive individuals are advised to take a combination of antiretroviral drugs to recover their health. If the patients continue to take these drugs on a day-to-day basis, they increase their possibility for living for many years without developing ADIS, Hall et al. (2015). In South America, some HIV prevention interventions have been successful in helping to reduce cases HIV among particular groups in certain areas. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of children who contracted HIV declined by 28 percent, Huedo-Medina et al. (2010) report. That said, though, the use of antiretroviral treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV differs significantly from states. While more than 70 percent of expectant mothers with HIV readily access PMTCT services in Mexico, Panama, and Ecuador, the coverage is about 30 percent or less in states like Guatemala, Venezuela, and Bolivia. Harm reduction programs have been extremely limited in South America with only 2 percent of PWID accessing needle syringe program services and Opioid substitution therapy services only available in Mexico and Colombia. As a way of reducing poverty and enabling families to meet medical expenses, for instance, in Uruguay, the government provides the Social Card, a social protection program that targets transgender women. Each cardholder receives 30 dollars monthly to purchase cleaning products and food (Huedo-Medina et al., 2010).
Deficiencies in the solution paradigm: In 2010, CDC started to pursue a High-impact prevention approach. CDC supports numerous scientifically proven, scalable and profitable HIV prevention measures which target the worst affected geographical areas and populations. Besides the National HIV/AIDS Program is committed to reducing the impact of HIV in the South. However, gaps exist in prevention patterns, that is, policymakers at the municipal, county and state level. Few efforts have been made to improve prevention as well as care outcomes in the South, Reif et al. (2015).
Supplemental Material. Presentation of the subject on sexual health is critical in the prevention of aids, yet many people do not want to speak about it in public. I will use recorded lectures in the form of videos to encourage the people to be open about sexual health. Individuals will be required to settle in a typical setting, for example, a theater to watch these videos. Eventually, the people who attend these recorded lectures will be free to discuss sexual health among themselves, and later in public.
Newly Proposed Deliverable
Deliverable overview. The central focus of this activity is to help the people discuss sexual health with their friends and peers. Guided by extensive research, I will detail the benefits of sexual health as an approach to addressing sexually transmitted infections. I will also make my video clip demonstrating the challenges orphans go, however, in the absence of their parent. In this clip, I will stress much that a lack of information on sexual health is a core cause of HIV transmission.
Significance to the student. It is a serious thing that in the 21st century the Southerners are experiencing high rates of HIV infections and the worse majority are not aware that they are infected. Students are part of the young generation that is highly involved in sexual practices. If the young people do not develop the habit of being open about sexual health, then they may end up making the same mistake the previous generations did.
Target audience. Young people between the ages of 18-35.
External dissemination platform. Places frequently visited by the youth such as cinemas. Also, social media is an essential platform to attract the attention of these people.
Proposed length and justification. The presentation will be 30 to one hour long videos presented by healthcare specialists.
Evaluation
The goal of the new deliverable. To educate the targeted audience about the importance of sexual health in relation to HIV prevention
Success outcome measures. If conducted successfully, this presentation will enlighten the public about the seriousness of HIV which is becoming a forgotten issue today.
Enhancement of global awareness. The reason why I am targeting this audience is that they are at the age of becoming first-time parents. If young mothers and fathers adopt this practice, they are more likely to pass the habit to their children which will be an important method for increasing HIV awareness, according to Skarbinski et al. (2015).
Enhancement of global perspective-taking. The target audience loves entertainment and so by presenting sexual health education through videos ensures entertainment and learning at the same time. The social media will media will greatly determine the success of this program. If people are willing to share information on social media platforms, then it means that they will eventually come to the point of sharing the same in public. What makes this activity unique is that besides socializing on the internet, individuals will be meeting face to face to ensure that they become used to talk about HIV in public (Abara et al., 2015).
References
Abara, W., Coleman, J. D., Fairchild, A., Gaddist, B., & White, J. (2015). A faith-based community partnership to address HIV/AIDS in the southern United States: Implementation, challenges, and lessons learned. Journal of religion and health, 54(1), 122-133.
Hall, H. I., An, Q., Tang, T., Song, R., Chen, M., Green, T., & Kang, J. (2015). Prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV infection—United States, 2008–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 64(24), 657-662.
Meade, C. S., Towe, S. L., Skalski, L. M., & Robertson, K. R. (2015). Independent effects of HIV infection and cocaine dependence on neurocognitive impairment in a community sample living in the southern United States. Drug and alcohol dependence, 149, 128-135.
Reif, S., Pence, B. W., Hall, I., Hu, X., Whetten, K., & Wilson, E. (2015). HIV diagnoses, prevalence and outcomes in nine southern states. Journal of community health, 40(4), 642-651.
Skarbinski, J., Rosenberg, E., Paz-Bailey, G., Hall, H. I., Rose, C. E., Viall, A. H., ... & Mermin, J. H. (2015). Human immunodeficiency virus transmission at each step of the care continuum in the United States. JAMA internal medicine, 175(4), 588-596.
Huedo-Medina, T. B., Boynton, M. H., Warren, M. R., LaCroix, J. M., Carey, M. P., & Johnson, B. T. (2010). Efficacy of HIV prevention interventions in Latin American and Caribbean nations, 1995–2008: a meta-analysis. AIDS and Behavior, 14(6), 1237-1251.
