Jada Brown INT 308H Dr.

Khadijah Miller

 HIV

(human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that kills cells in your immune system, the system that fights diseases. Once your immune system is weakened to the point where you get certain types of lifethreatening diseases, infections, and cancers, you have what is called AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

It can take as little as a few weeks for minor flulike symptoms to show up or as long as 10 years or more for more serious symptoms. Symptoms can include

headache frequent yeast infections chronic cough loss of appetite and weight loss diarrhea frequent fevers and sweats skin rashes swollen glands lack of energy sores pelvic and abdominal cramps

People age 50 and older may not recognize HIV symptoms in themselves because they think what they are feeling and experiencing is part of normal aging.

 Education

and Sociology (the study of human social behavior) In order to address why HIV/AIDS is so prevalent in women, we must combine these two disciplines.

 Education

perspective: Health Education is the only defense against the spread of HIV. The lack of education is the key to the spread of HIV among older adults. Sociology perspective: Because of the use of medicines (due to old age), older women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are living longer and healthier, with the capacity to remain sexually active and spread the disease.

It recognizes that successful activities to promote health change individual behaviors. According to this model, behavior is determined by the following: Intrapersonal factorscharacteristics of the individual such as KNOWLEDGE, attitudes, behavior, self-concept, skills. Interpersonal processesformal and informal social network and social support systems, including the family, work group, and friendships. Institutional factors High school, college, etc. Community factorsrelationships among organizations, institutions, and informal networks within defined boundaries.

Developed in the 1950s by I.M. Rosenstock, It asserts that people will change behavior depending upon their knowledge and attitudes According to this model, a person must hold the following beliefs in order to be able to change behavior: Perceived susceptibility to a particular health problem (I am at risk for HIV). Perceived seriousness of the condition (AIDS is serious. My life would be hard if I got it). Belief in effectiveness of the new behavior (Condoms are effective against HIV transmission). Cues to action (Witnessing the death or illness of a close friend or relative due to AIDS). Perceived benefits of preventive action (If I start using condoms, I can avoid HIV infection). Barriers to taking action (I dont like using condoms).

Health Agencies (less doctor visits)

Perceived seriousness of the condition

Intrapersonal factors (knowledge, attitude behavior)

Lack of Education

The lack of education, interpersonal factors, such as your attitude, less doctor visits (probably due to low income) and the perceived seriousness about the situation leads to the spread of HIV. If older women were more aware and solemn about HIV/AIDs then, there would be less deaths from the disease.

Johnson, Anne. M. (1985) Journal of the Royal Society, Series A. Retrieved November, 7, 2012. National Institute of Aging. N.d. HIV, AIDS, and Older People. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/ Warren-Jeanpiere, L., Jones, S., & Sutton, M. Y. (2011). Health Administrator Perspectives on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Prevention and Services at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Journal Of American College Health, 59(4), 327-329. doi:10.1080/07448481.2010.502202 KHOSROVANI, M., DESAI, M. S., & SANDERS, A. (2011). AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS OPINIONS OF MEDIA MESSAGES ON HIV/AIDS AWARENESS: STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE DISEASE. College Student Journal, 45(2), 414-427. Ferguson, Y., Quinn, S., Eng, E. E., & Sandelowski, M. M. (2006). The gender ratio imbalance and its relationship to risk of HIV/AIDS among African American women at historically black colleges and universities. AIDS Care, 18(4), 323-331. doi:10.1080/09540120500162122