Patient Assistance Programs for People Living with HIV/AIDS
According to the American Psychological Association a person’s socioeconomic status is measured by a combination of education, income, and occupation. The problem for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is their socioeconomic status affecting their quality of life (QOL). According to World Health Organization QOL is defined as a person’s views of their positions in life corresponding to the framework of their culture and values in which they live in relation to their goals, standards, expectations, and concerns. Socioeconomics discloses many inequalities with access and distribution of necessary resources to increase their QOL. There are a number of practices out there that serve PLWHA population. These practices have numerous intervention opportunities available to them. They should look into these Evidence-Based Practice solutions to best serve these particular clients for their QOL. Typical Client and Practice Concern
Joe is a 25 year-old, African American homosexual male. The client currently lost his job because he has been sick a lot causing him to not be able to work. The client’s employer never offer insurance and he could not afford to purchase insurance on his own. Joe was just diagnosed with HIV in the hospital when he caught pneumonia. No one in the hospital sat down with Joe to explain to him about HIV treatment. All he was told that he needs to get an infectious disease doctor to prescribe him
With the help of government programs such as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) as well as multiple other methods of sociological research and social justice work, there have been shifts toward better understanding this disease, those which are living with it, and the societal impact one’s own prejudices can make toward an individual living with AIDS. However, discrepancies still exist within how to properly educate others on the disease, how to recognize it as a disability within the context of our society, and how we must reconcile stigmas that play a role in plaguing any sort of positive conversation on the topic. With well-informed citizens on the issues of HIV and AIDS patients, not only can we reduce the stigma associated with the illness, but also work toward medical advancements that assist those living with HIV in a nondiscriminatory manner.
I assume that in today’s world, there is a lot of information and scholarly research available that shows factors such as economic status, income, social situations, education, ethnicity, employment, availability of affordable housing and geographical (place where one was born and lives) conditions have a tremendous impact on the health and well-being of individuals, countries and communities (Amaro, 2014). Inequalities in health and well-being are created by social determinants and economic conditions for many in our community (Brannigan &Boss). The people that are affected the most are people with low income and minority groups here in the United States. This creates health disparities and unequal care (Brannigan &Boss). In many developing and under-developed countries, the situation is dire: lack of modern health services, illiteracy, poor economic conditions has created a cultural situation of desperation and unhealthy behaviors. Corruption by African governments is rampant. To improve the health and wellbeing of communities, we need to start thinking of how we can create a culture of health.
HIV/AIDS Disparity among African Americans Health disparities are the differences in accessing and receiving quality of health care provided to different populations (book). The multiple causes of disparities may include gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, stigma or socioeconomic status. One of the common disparities in the US is among African American women who are infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its viral successor, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). There is no clear answer as to why disparity is an ongoing problem within the population but factors that contribute to this epidemic include race itself, poverty or low income and lack of access to care
Bradley, et al. (2014) examined the continuum of services among persons living with HIV in the United States during 2011. Data was gathered and examined from the National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) from the United States regarding improving the care and treatment of individuals diagnosed with HIV from 2011-2013. This data was significant because the finding could ultimately assist the government with reducing new infection and related illnesses and improving the rate of viral load suppression with the assistance of antiretroviral therapy (ART). According to the authors in 2011 in the United States an estimated 1.2 million individuals were living with HIV (Bradley, et al., 2014, p. 1113). Furthermore, the authors also stated
Sophie is a 21 year old senior attending a mid-size four year college in Central New York. She transferred from a small rural four year college. Sophie visited the Student Health Center for HIV/AID testing. Fortunately, she was given a clean bill of health. Sophie was not able to eat well for weeks prior her health examination. She stopped hanging out with her friends, soccer teammates and eventually dropped off of the team. Sophie started skipping class and not participating when she would attend. Her health and wellness professor noticed her changed behavior and recommended she talk to someone from the counseling center. After a few visits, she was dissatisfied with counseling and decided to stop going.
Socioeconomic status and diversity may affect health status in many ways. “Researchers often use singular indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) such as income, education, or occupational attainment interchangeable. However, the interaction among these indicators differ by racial and ethnic group” (Kominski, 2014, p. 86). Individuals with low-incomes and low-income community’s health status are often negatively impacted due to the inability to receive and maintain adequate health services. The psychosocial pathway theory and material deprivation pathway theory analyze the negative effects that may occur with individuals who have low incomes. The overall condition of a community and the diversity of the people who occupy it also have
Per the Biopsychosocial model, one’s health is contingent upon three factors: biological, psychological, and social/cultural. To regain optimum health in an HIV diagnosis one must identify the problems within the biological, psychological, and social perimeters.
AIDS stands for “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome”. AIDS is the final stage of HIV, and occurs when your immune system is badly damaged. AIDS is a very dangerous disease. People who have AIDS only typically have 3 years to live once they are diagnosed. Medical treatment is needed to prevent death from AIDS, without treatment, those infected have about a year to live (What Is HIV/AIDS?). AIDS is a life-threatening disease, but it comes with many more complications and consequences.
Many people are unaware of their health status further increasing transmission of disease in young adult African American(AA) women age 18-24. Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) infects and also destroy blood cells (i.e. lymphocytes) that the body need to fight off infection (Mays 2011). African American women HIV positive, age 18-24 the magnitude of issue of the health disparity in this particular population will be addressed along with the many factors of social and health determinants. The health concern is towards the increase of transmission among young AA mothers and their children who are the health outcomes in many ways than one. The many social and health determinants that affect the women today are on going cycles that have yet to be broken. African American women make 64% of new infection cases for HIV. African american obtain a vulnerability unlike other minorities. The health population’s culture and stigma has played an important role in the community. The concern for AA women is the increase of new cases and most importantly the spread of the disease to these women’s children. The mortality rate of AA women with HIV is 47.1% as of 2012. (Siddiqi 2015)
Most-at-risk populations (MARPs)/KPs including sex workers, people who inject drugs, gay men and other men who have sex with men and their sex partners bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic and accounted for 45% of all new infections in 2015. These population are also greatly marginalized and affected by human right abuses. Criminalization and stigmatization of sex work, drug possession and use and same-sex relationships, and discrimination including by health care workers makes accessing HIV prevention, treatment and care services difficult. To achieve the UNAIDS 90 90 90 target by 2020, and the ultimate goal for ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, improving health care workers sensitivity to HIV prevention intervention services
Many researchers have spent time documenting the degree and effects of stigmatization on different chronic illness. Studies have shown that the stigmatization surrounding HIV causes “emotional distress, anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, limited sources of social support, relationship issues, concealment of disease after prognosis, poor adherence to treatment, increased disability, and diminished quality of life” (Cataldo et al, 2011, p. 47). Interviews conducted by Barbara Blake, Lois Robley, Gloria Taylor, nursing professors from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, revealed even young adults living with HIV are stigmatized and that this stigmatization effects their daily lives. One participant reported that his classmates called [him]
AIDS, which stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, has been a worldwide issue for many years. People of all ages have been affected by this syndrome, from newborns to young teens, all the way to adults going all the way through their seniority. Individuals with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome have had many obstacles to deal with. Some of which are problems not only having to do with their health, but also with the relationship that they have with the people around their community, family, and even with their self. It’s a battle that has taken many lives. This deficiency syndrome takes away one’s health mentally, emotionally, as well as physically. When an individual contracts aids, their immune system takes a huge toll and
Social and behavioral factors also have significant impact on the older adult population and HIV. Older adults are less likely than younger adults to reveal their status. Older adults usually draw on cultural resources and values as well as spirituality to explain and cope with their HIV diagnosis and the associated stigma. They are more likely than their younger counterparts to feel less cheated by the disease and the threat of disabilities associated with the disease (Seigel & Schrimshaw, 2002). In contrast, research articles focused on the social-psychological experiences of older adults with HIV often report high rates of depression associated with decreased physical well-being and social support. Major depression rates were reported to
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) are the most widely and ongoing pandemics affecting the United States and many other parts of the world. There is still much more to be researched about HIV, as it has no known cure. Aside from finding a cure to HIV, it is equally important to look at the social and psychological impact that the HIV might have on the person infected and how these impacts differ according to gender. Studying gender can be substantial in making connections to how STDs affect individuals on the social and psychological levels. These connections that are made through examining mental illness can help in developing appropriate support groups for the groups that face the most crucial
The goal of the study is to compare HIV education and GSP as treatment options for those HIV-positive people afflicted with depression. In addition to this, the study wants to compare the effects of these two therapies on depression, general functioning, and perceptions of social support and self-esteem (Nakimuli-Mpungu, et al., 2015, p. 9). The study was based on principles found in cognitive beahviour theory, social learning theory, and the sustainable livelihoods framework (Nakimuli-Mpungu, et al., 2015, p. 2). Cognitive behavioural theory maintains that the way in which we perceive our surroundings is integral to the way we react to those same surroundings (Nakimuli-Mpungu, et al., 2015, p. 2). Social learning theory stipulates that behaviour is learned from one 's environment, with the individual exhibiting the behaviour being observed referred to as the "model" (Nakimuli-Mpungu, et al., 2015, p. 2). The sustainable livelihoods framework says that without effective livelihood strategies, opportunities for livelihood will be more limited (Nakimuli-Mpungu, et al., 2015, p. 2).