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Running Head: HIV/AIDS 1

The document discusses HIV/AIDS, noting that it continues to disproportionately affect women, blacks, and the black community in the United States. While blacks make up only 12% of the US population, they accounted for 44% of new HIV/AIDS cases in 2009. The document outlines factors that increase blacks' risk, like higher rates of other STIs, and discusses the need for targeted health education and outreach programs to help reduce stigma and increase testing and treatment in the black community.

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90 views

Running Head: HIV/AIDS 1

The document discusses HIV/AIDS, noting that it continues to disproportionately affect women, blacks, and the black community in the United States. While blacks make up only 12% of the US population, they accounted for 44% of new HIV/AIDS cases in 2009. The document outlines factors that increase blacks' risk, like higher rates of other STIs, and discusses the need for targeted health education and outreach programs to help reduce stigma and increase testing and treatment in the black community.

Uploaded by

Healthybrown
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Running head: HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS Denise Jackson American Sentinel University

HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS appeared in the USA some thirty years ago and continues to plague mankind. The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be a growing problem around the world. HIV/AIDS have been disproportionately affecting women and blacks at an alarming rate. Blacks Americans account for more of the newly diagnosed cases of HIV/AIDS than any racial or ethical group in the United States (Prejean, 2011). Black American only represent 12% of the population in the United States but, accounts for 44% of new HIV/AIDS case in 2009(Center for Disease Control and Prevention([CDC], 2011). However, Black Americans tend to have sex with partners of the same race/ethnicity which means they are more likely to face a greater risk of HIV infection with each sexual encounter. With the presence of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can drastically raise the chance of contracting HIV. Many of the black communities continue to experience higher rates of other STIs compared to other racial/ethnic communities in the United States. There are many factors that hinder the black communities when it comes to HIV/AIDS the fear of the knowing, discrimination, homophobia, and negative perceptions about HIV testing. All the factors place Black Americans at a higher risk. With all the stigmas in the black communities what can be done to correct the stigmas and help to decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS. The black community feels that HIV/AIDS is a man-made disease that was invented to abolish the black population. When the disease first broke out, a new virus was suspected, but the general public was assured by medical officials there was nothing to worry about. Today, most of the HIV/AIDS cases are heterosexual. The AIDS virus (HIV) can also be transmitted vaginally; and one does not need to be a drug abuser, a promiscuous person or a homosexual to contract AIDS.

HIV/AIDS Health education and risk reduction activities are needed to reach person that are at an increased risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. The goal of health education and risk reduction programs is to reduce the risk of these events occurring. There is a need for street and community outreach, risk reduction counseling, prevention case management, and communitylevel intervention to provide health education on HIV/AIDS risk factors and ways to reduce them. With proper education Individual in the black communities will seek to know their HIV/AIDS status; and by knowing their status they will seek treatment earlier. By seeking treatment for HIV/AIDS earlier there will be a better chance of survival and decrease the spread

of HIV/AIDS. By going out to the community rather than waiting for the community to come to the health care profession may aid in earlier diagnosis and treatment. Street and community outreach can go out and conduct clinics for HIV/AIDS testing, provide education in the black communities. Rather than hosting educational session in the traditional setting a more non-traditional setting can be used, such as going into the communities street corners where many drug addicts, prostitution and other high hazardous behavioral takes place. This would be the major population to focus on during these sessions. Must remember that there are places and time that certain activities should take place. A HIV risk assessment may take place on a street corner, but HIV counseling and testing should not be addressed there. Counseling and testing should be addressed in one of the local clinics. Effective street outreach staff: Know the target group's language. Have basic training and experience in health education. Are sensitive to community norms, values, cultural beliefs, and traditions.

HIV/AIDS Have a shared identity with the population served, one must have shared stemming personal experiences with the group. Are trusted by the group they serve. Act as role models to the clients they serve. Advocate for the population served. Act as liaisons between the community and the agency. Are informed about community resources and use them.

For the program to work the people that are involved must have a commitment to the program. Many of the following must be addressed to assure not just the program works but also safety for the people involved. Regular communication between educators, outreach specialists, and supervisors. Observation of potential outreach areas to determine the locations, times of day,. Safety protocol must are updated regularly. Establish regular and consistent schedules of activities, including times and locations ([CDC], 2011).

The purpose of risk reduction counseling is to provide counseling and health education to persons who are at high risk for HIV infection. The interventions promote and reinforce safe behavior. By having a strong relationship with STD clinics, TB testing sites, HIV counseling and testing clinics, and other health service agencies may be exceptionally favorable in effectively engaging persons at high risk who are suitable for this type of intervention.

HIV/AIDS References BCA Black Coalition on AIDS. (2009). . Retrieved from http://www.bcoa.org/contact.html Branson, B., Handsfield, H., & Lampe, M. (2009). Revised recommendations for HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings. In . Retrieved from Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Estimates of New HIV Infections in the United States. In. Atlanta, GA: Author.

Kalichman SC, Rompa D, Cage M, DiFonzo K, Simpson D, Austin J, Buckles J, Kyomugisha F, Benotsch E, Pinkerton S, Graham J. (2001). Effectiveness of an intervention to reduce HIV transmission risks in HIV-Positive people. American Journal of Preventive Medicine,21(2):84-92. Mosher, W., Chandra, A., & Jones, J. (2007). Sexual behavior and Selected Health Measures: men and women 15-44 years of age. . Retrieved from Prejean, J. (2011, August 2011). Estimated HIV Incidence in the United States. PloS ONE, 6(8). Whetten, K., Leserman, J., & Whetten, R. (2006). . In R. Whetten (Ed.), Exploring lack of trust in care providers and the government as a barrier to health service use. (p. 716-721).

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