HIV/AIDS Prevalence in African-American Population Essay Assignment paper
HIV/AIDS Prevalence in African-American Population Essay Assignment paper
Nursing has developed into a unique profession that combines medical techniques with humanitarian and leadership skills. Advocacy for vulnerable populations and social justice is a fundamental aspect that defines nursing practice. It is the ethical duty of nurses to advocate for equitable health care and develop a vision of healthy communities. Health care remains a fundamental human right that should be provided to everyone. Nurses are at the forefront of supporting the principle of equitable health care which emphasizes timely access to high-quality, affordable, and culturally competent to medical services, including preventive care (Matthews, 2017). The African-American population is experiencing a disproportionate morbidity rate of the HIV/AIDS virus and failing to receive the necessary health care services that become critical social issues for which nurses should advocate. HIV/AIDS Prevalence in African-American Population Essay
Population Health Disparity
African Americans, also known as Blacks, are both an ethnic group and an official racial designation for any persons identifying themselves as having origins or ancestry from Africa. Approximately 40.7 million people or 12.7 percent of the US population identify as African Americans. They are the second-largest minority population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). The chosen population has a troubled socio-economic history which makes it a vulnerable minority population.
HIV/AIDS Prevalence in African-American Population Essay Assignment paper
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The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an incurable disease that weakens the immune system. If untreated, it can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which is fatal. The virus is transmitted via sexual activity or blood contact (causing widespread prevalence amongst drug addicts reusing the same syringe). A population is more vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS virus due to sexual activity, risk behaviors, and geographic location (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Despite a significant process in the prevention and treatment of HIV, it remains a critical health issue within the United States and the Black population. HIV/AIDS Prevalence in African-American Population Essay
African Americans account for a large percentage of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States. The statistical occurrence of the disease in the racial group makes it an ongoing health disparity. The community faces a greater risk of infection due to a lack of awareness of HIV status and the tendency of sexual encounters within the same racial group. There are a number of socio-economic issues that place African Americans with the worst outcomes on the HIV continuum of care. Social issues relating to stigma, homophobia, and discrimination are contributing factors limiting access to proper preventive care and treatment. It is part of numerous federal health programs, including Health People 2020 to reduce the prevalence of the HIV/AIDS virus within the population, particularly vulnerable groups such as African-Americans through education, prevention, and access to equitable health care (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). HIV/AIDS Prevalence in African-American Population Essay
Literature Review
In 2009, the prevalence rate of HIV was 952 per 100,000 people amongst African Americans, 6.6 times more likely to be living with a diagnosis compared to the white majority. Such statistics place the HIV/AIDS health disparity for African-Americans at the level of a full-fledged epidemic (Vaughan, Rosenberg, Shouse, & Sullivan, 2014). By 2012, 47% of new diagnoses and 43% of those living with the HIV infection identified as African-Americans. The population experiences a tremendously low 3-year survival rate after diagnosis. The mortality rate dropped from 28.4 per 1,000 persons in 2008 to 20.5 in 2012 after high-impact national interventions. However, it remains 13% higher than the mortality rate for whites (Siddiqi, Hu, Hall, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). It is evident that statistically there is a significant disparity in prevalence and mortality rates of HIV amongst African Americans. HIV/AIDS Prevalence in African-American Population Essay
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