HIV in America

The health of a population affects directly the productivity of a society and the economic condition of people. A society that faces different health problems is likely to suffer from poverty and further divert significant resources in controlling the menace. Human Immunodeficiency Virus is problem that is prevalent across the world and affects people irrespective of their social status (Malani, 2016). The problem originates from virus that attacks the immune systems of human beings making them unable to fight opportunistic diseases (Malani, 2016). Therefore, the situation results to deaths if the condition is uncontrolled.  The transmission of the disease takes place through exposure to body fluids such as bloods from affected persons (Malani, 2016). Irresponsible sexual activities are a leading cause of the disease in the society. America has a significant number of people infected by HIV and the situation has negative impact on their economic, political and social welfare. However, the government through the health ministry is working towards limiting the spread of the diseases in the population through different programs. 

Background of the HIV Problem

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a significant pandemic in the world and its history dates back to early 1980s (Nall, 2018). However, traces of the diseases show its presence in Democratic republic in Congo before 1931 due to interaction of men with chimpanzees (Nall, 2018). The contact was possible due to the culture of hunting where people were in contact with blood of these animals. When United States reported first case of the disease, people associated it with certain category of people. Indeed, there was belief that those who contracted aids were homosexuals, heroin users and hemophiliacs (Nall, 2018). Additionally, there was a myth that Haitians were also prone to contraction of the disease. The idea got support from reports of high incidences of HIV among the people of this origin (Nall, 2018). However, through research, scientists were able to provide new knowledge about the spread of HIV. The scientists found that the pandemic could also affect females and children during birth or breastfeeding period (Nall, 2018). Further, research made it possible for American scientists through the Center of Diseases Control and prevention (CDC) to identify Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as a resultant of HIV (Nall, 2018).  

Over The years, the prevalence of HIV grew in America and by 1995; HIV was causing a significant number of deaths especially among the youths (Nall, 2018). Indeed, more than 50,000 people from American died from the diseases after its emergence in the country (Nall, 2018). The trend was worrying and the new infections were significantly rising in the country despite efforts by the government to control the problem. However, a significant number of individuals infected by the diseases were African- Americans and gays (Nall, 2018).  A significant number of new infectious originated from individual who were unaware of their health condition. Indeed, in 2003 America reported about 40,000 new HIV infections in the country (Nall, 2018). During this period, the disease was also evident in different parts of the world with significant number of deaths registered. The Worlds Health Organization (WHO) had to intervene with the aim of creating awareness to the people and reduce new infections in the world (Nall, 2018).  

Historically, the mortality rates of HIV victims in America are highest on individuals who are gay and they account for more than half of the deaths (CDC, 2018). The behavior of this group of people exposes the participants to infections from the disease. According to 2017 statistics, the bisexual and gay men new infections accounted for about 66% of HIV diagnosis in the country (CDC, 2018). The problem originates from the sexual orientation of the group and their behavior of failing to use condoms. Therefore, when they engage in sex, there are possible bruises that occur in their genitals and this becomes an easier route for the virus. Another, limiting behavior that influences HIV pandemic in America is evident in drug users who inject drugs in their bodies. The population share injecting objects and this raises their exposure to HIV infection. Estimations shows that there are lover 1 million people diagnosed with HIV in America and more than 15,000 die yearly (CDC, 2018). More than half of the deaths affect the gay community in the country. 

Description of HIV New Cases and Prevalence

About 1 person out 7 people living with HIV do not know their status among the more than 1 million individuals diagnosed with the disease in America (HIV.gov, 2018). The individuals are either ignorant or they refuse to take initiative to test for the disease. The new infections in the country are about 38,000 according to reports of 2015 (HIV.gov, 2018). A significant number of these new infections relates to the bisexual and gay men. Indeed, the group accounts for over 26,000 new infections every year (HIV.gov, 2018). The distribution of HIV pandemic is uneven in America with people living in the south having higher infection rates. Indeed, the people make less than half of American population but they account for about half of the new infections (HIV.gov, 2018). However, despite the high number of new infections in the country, the trend is declining in comparison to previous years. Actually, the rate was over 40,000 new infections in 2010 and therefore there is a significant drop by about 8% (HIV.gov, 2018). The incidence is a result of government intervention and campaigns against the disease where people are embracing responsible sexual activities. The government notes that sex remains the leading cause of spared of HIV in the population. 

The age group that is leading in the incidences of HIV is individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 years (HIV.gov, 2018). The group is relatively sexually activities and engages in different lifestyles such as drug abuse that expose them to the disease. Peer pressure is significantly high in the identified group and the youths engage in different activities to qualify for recognition by friends. Individuals below this age register relatively low new infections in the population.  It is also notable that people who aged above 55 years have low prevalence to HIV infection (HIV.gov, 2018). Concerning ethnicity/race, the blacks and individuals from Hispanic background register high rate of infections (HIV.gov, 2018). Reports show that African-American accounts for about 12% of the total American population but account for 44% of individuals diagnosed with HIV (HIV.gov, 2018).The situation mainly results from their relative high poverty index in comparison the white majority in the m country. Indeed, it is common to find significant number of the population from these ethnicities engaging in prostitution (HIV.gov, 2018). The aim is to raise money to cater for their needs and take care of their families. The sexual activities with different sexual partners in addition to ignorance to use protection expose this group to the disease. 

Social, Economic and Political Implication of the HIV Problem

The HIV pandemic has different negative impact on the American society in different aspects of their life especially the social life where the number of orphans increases in the population. When HIV is uncontrolled through different strategies such as use of ARVs death of different people irrespective of their age is inevitable. The death of parents from the diseases leaves children as orphans and they fail to get quality life and basic needs such as education (Islam et.al. 2014). The children thus suffer in poverty and thrive in ignorance, thus opting to engage in physical labor to cater for their needs. The impact is a society where child labor is common and this goes against the rights of children. Further, death of parents exposes the children to insecurity where incidences of sexual harassment are possible. When such incidences occur the kids are likely to contract HIV exposing them to death. Further, such abuse could result to early pregnancies for the children-adding burden to the orphans as they strive to support lives of the new babies (Islam et.al. 2014). It is also possible for individuals suffering from social stigma from the society that does not want to associate with them for fear of being infected. The situation results in stress and depression and this denies the victims happiness. 

Economically, HIV reduces the productivity of the society where energetic people cannot support their needs through physical work (The Council of States Governments, 2015). The weakness of the body makes individuals unable to adequately handle manual work and thus rarely provide for their families. The incidence contributes to poverty in the society where infected parents are unable to support their children education. Further, the disease adds pressure to the economic capacity of infected people as they use significant funds to seek treatment (The Council of States Governments, 2015). The decline in immunity for the infected individuals makes them prone to other diseases such as pneumonia and this makes them regularly visit hospitals. Additionally, when parents die, they indirectly put pressure on economic condition of the society and guardian that takes care of such kids. 

Politically, HIV problem in the society affect the progress of a government in supporting development project because significant amount of money caters for the HIV victims (The Council of States Governments, 2015). Indeed, the government spends significant amount of money in availing affordable arms to the victims to support their lives. Further, the government supports scientists in conducting research on the diseases and this reduces funds available for other important medical research. Indeed, the situation denies the government adequate opportunity to fund health innovativeness projects that could improve overall health of the population (The Council of States Governments, 2015). The situation further influences the government to develop policies directed to the menace at expense of serving growth elements of its society. Further, issues of rising HIV menace have potential to distract foreign investors investing in a country. The situation arises from recognition that adequate work force may not be available to cater for labor needs for their activities. 

Current Solutions of Controlling the HIV Problem and why they are Ineffective 

There are different ways such as educating the society that is relevant in controlling the spread of HIV in America. The government is conducting campaigns that sensitize people on the causes of HIV and how they can protect themselves from infection. Through the ministry of education, the government is also emphasizing the need to teach about HIV in schools (The Council of States Governments, 2015). The goal is to help students learn from early age about the disease and their role in preventing its spread. Additionally, in collaboration with public hospitals the government offers free counseling to infected individuals to control their levels of the disease. Through the process, the individuals learn how to live positively with the disease. The individuals understand their role in supporting HIV campaign and preventing transmission to other people. Additionally, the government is gradually limiting the use of drugs by the youths that expose them to HIV infection. The efforts allow the youths understand need to avoid sharing of injecting equipment when they take drug. Further, the awareness enables the society to avoid myths that place some segment of the population as the ones under threat of infection. The impact is a society that is empowered with knowledge to control and prevent incidences of spread of the disease. 

On the other hand, the health sector is collaborating with researchers to come up with drugs that help individuals live longer with the disease. Through the Center Of Diseases Control and Prevention, the government provides antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs to the infected individuals to enhance their living(The Council of States Governments, 2015). The drug works by boosting the weakened immune system thus able to fight common ailments that attack the victims.  Further, the health sector offer counseling where individuals with HIV get advice on their eating habit to boost their ability to fight the diseases. Healthy eating is encouraged in these sessions and this ensures that the HIV victims remain strong. Additionally, the medical practitioners offer advice on the victims to remain faithful to avoid complicating the effect of their disease. Through the physicians, people are able to understand the different types of HIV and effect of promiscuous activity in deteriorating health of infected individuals. Through seminars, the health practitioners also educate the society about need to embrace those who are infected (The Council of States Governments, 2015). The situation reduces stigmatization that has potential of influencing the infected victims willing to spread the disease to others maliciously. Through record keeping, the health sector offers adequate information to the government to understand the extent of infection in the society. The data further helps the government to know the effectiveness of its campaigns against the disease and approximate drugs required by the population.

Despite the efforts to control spread from the infected individuals, the government in collaboration with health sector identifies the segment of population prone to infection. Through mapping, the government identifies those individuals in commercial work activities are at high risks (Gunthard et.al. 2016). Therefore, the government has provided a program that gives pre-exposure prophylaxis to the people to lower their infection rate when exposed to individuals who are infected. The program further identifies individuals who get infection from unintended exposure especially after rape cases. The government offer post-exposure prophylaxis to such victims to lower their chances of infection (Gunthard et.al. 2016). Additionally, there are programs to screen blood for HIV before blood transfusion activities in any health facility. Mothers also get advice as they attend clinics when pregnant and get tests for HIV to enable timely intervention of the baby to avoid HIV infection after birth (Gunthard et.al. 2016). However, despite the efforts the control of HIV has been relatively ineffective due to rising number of gays and poverty among some segment of the population. The incidences expose the individuals to new infection and despite the intervention; the new infection is relatively high. 

A Plan On How to Reduce or Eliminate the Problem in Our Society and its Approximate Cost

Compulsory HIV testing should be the start of a progressive elimination of HIV in the society. The step will allow the government to have adequate data of infected individuals in the society thus providing significant drugs. The next step should be illegalizing issues of commercial sex and gays in the country because they contribute significantly to spread of HIV. Further, there needs to be compulsory HIV awareness programs in all private and public sectors to ensure that people are conversant with the menace. The workplaces should ensure that free condoms are available to their employees to offer protection and avoid unsafe sex. The hospitals should then get equipped with free ARVs and pre and post prophylaxis to support infected individuals and protect spread of the daisies. The economic cost that the government would incur by distributing free HIV control drugs is between 100 and 900 dollars per month on every infected individual (Eaton et.al. 2016). The social cost would arise from the plan in the number of orphans in the society and reduction in new infections thus boosting productivity. Politically, the government would enjoy increased support from the public that feel their health needs are a priority. Therefore, there would be relatively few issues of individuals opposing government plans.

Conclusion

HIV pandemic is a leading cause of death in the world and especially in the United States. Discovery of HIV was in early 1980s and thousands of people have died over the years. The disease spreads through sexual activities, transfusion of blood, and mother to child among others. In America, the new infection rates are over 38,000 yearly and this number is relatively high. A significant amount of new infections occurs in the gay community and in African American population. However, due to intervention of government through different campaigns against the disease, the new infections are gradually declining. The government in conjunction with health sectors offers different drugs that prevent and control the disease. However, it is important that the government consider developing a plan that requires compulsory testing and offering more drugs in hospitals. Further, the government needs to require private and public sector to create awareness on their employees to help lower new infections and suffering from the disease. Though the efforts will increase the expenditure for the government, it will lower number of orphans in the society. 

References

CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) (2018). HIV in the United States. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/overview/ataglance.html

Eaton, E. F, Tamhane, A., Saag, M. et.al. 2016. Considerations in the Current ARV Era. AIDS. 30(14), 2115-2119. 

Gunthard, H. F., Saag, M. S., Benson, C. A. et.al. (20160. Antiretroviral Drugs for Treatment and Prevention of HIV Infection in Adults. 2016 Recommendations of the International Antiviral Society–USA Panel. JAMA, 316(2), 191-210. 

HIV.gov. (2018). U. S Statistics: Fast Facts. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics

Islam, C., Minichiello, V. & Scott, J. (2014). Children Living in HIV Families: A Review. Journal of Child & Adolescent Behavior, 2(5), 1-7 

Malani, P. N. (2016). Human Immunodeficiency Virus. JAMA, 316(2), 238

Nall, R. (2018). The History of HIV and AIDS in the United States. Health Line. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from: https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/history

The Council of States Governments. (2015). The Impact of HIV and AIDS in the United States. Capital Research. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from: http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/CR_HIV_AIDS_Impact_US.pdf