A FAMILY WITH HIV/AIDS: SOCIETAL

AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

A Thesis Presented to The Polytechnic University

of the Philippines Senior High School

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Humanities and Social
Science strand (SY 2016-2017)

By

Allegre, Christian John

Almazan, Dara Alleiah
Baldo, Marc Andrew
Flores, Joash Edson
Grageda, Daricell
Lopez, Dianne Nicole

March 2017
 CHAPTER 1

THE PHENOMENON

The chapter presents the researchers background of the study, the

scope and limitations, the problem statement, the research objectives,
significance of the study and its purpose.

The Introduction

As recorded by the Department of Health, there are 24,966 cases of

HIV in the Philippines as of April 2015 and more than 36,700,000 individual
are contaminated outside the country. Human Immunodeficiency Virus or
HIV that sometimes lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is just
one of the Sexually Transmitted Disease or STD but could also be
transferred through 'mother-child' transmission or sometimes by needle
sharing of drug users. The virus gradually attacks the immune system,
which is our body's natural defense against illness so the body will find it
harder to fight infections and diseases. The virus was considered as fast
and furious worsening because of it's rapid widening.

Unfortunately, youth became one of the top victims of the said

disease for 62% of it's Filipino victims are aged 15-24 years and old, that's
why the National Youth Commission or NYC encouraged young people to
have test even without parental support. Discrimination also added as
one of the factors why does the influenza spread out as people were
discouraged from being tested due to fear of being diagnosed and
discriminated. As it damaged more people, many families will be
affected or worse will be victim. That's why early test before being
engaged in sex or marrying of partners will greatly help because the
earlier they know their HIV status, the earlier they seek care and treatment
to improve their quality of life and more people or more likely children will
be saved from being affected.

As part of the Immediate and Comprehensive Intervention of the

Department of Health, they are giving away condoms for they have said
unprotected sex is the main driver of HIV and AIDS. Addition to their
strategies to fight against the prevailing malady was the Senate Bill 376 or
Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Bill which includes preventions, treatments,
action plans etc. Despite of all these actions they took, the disease remain
dispersing and making a larger rate of victims.

Therefore, this study is an idea of the epidemic disproportionately.

There have been a lot of effects or consequences having the HIV
epidemic. Maybe the frequent was the health of individuals, but it may
also influences the households, communities, and the development and
economic growth of nation. Many of the countries hardest hit by HIV also
suffer from the infections diseases, food insecurity and the other serious
problems.

Regardless of going in out scientific explanation of HIV and its

prevention and treatment as well as years of important effort by the
global health community and leading government and civil society
organization, most people living with HIV or at risk for it do not have
access to prevention, care, and treatment and there is still no cure.
However, effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs can control the virus
so that people with HIV can enjoy healthy lives and reduces the risk of
transmitting the virus to others.

The investigation was conducted to determine the effects of the

HIV to a person. Even though there’s a lot of bad sequel was given of
what was the result of having that disease in the human body, but we do
wanted to know of what that disease can do on the social life of a
person.

The study is limited only like in the family that is affected or struggling
with HIV that can’t focus for the illness that they ignore the signs of health
problems in family members. This is the time for us to easily answer the
questions or what people are thinking of what is the actually effect of the
disease into a person.

This story is worth seeking for it will reveal the untold stories of a
family with this kind of malady and through this, we can understand them
more and give the medical attention and psychological need upon their
rare case.

This case study may also benefit to the Filipino Youth, Filipino
Families, HIV/AIDS positive, Schools and even to our government for they
serve as our care takers.
 Youth has a big role in our world and they also have big
responsibilities that they were called the future heroes. It is good for them
to be aware early as their age so they can prevent theireselves from
being involved in this health sickness and to understand the ones whose
already a victim. As a soon to be world-keeper, it is important for them to
know what the future awaits for them and they should be ready to face it.

This research is also meaningful to Filipino families with and without

HIV. The study helps them to understand more the difficulties that the HIV
and AIDS victims are facing and through this, they can plan on how they
can make their children well oriented for the disease awareness and be
prevented from being affected.

It will also help the school and Government or specifically the

Department of Health. The study is valuable to them for they will know the
actual happenings to a person or family with an HIV/AIDS will give them
more ideas on how to control and appreciate people with the said illness.

The purpose of this study is to make the society aware not only in
the prevention of it but also in making up in our fellow brothers and sisters
as they fight against one of their life's biggest battle.
The Problem Statement

The research study intends to answer the inquiry “What are the
adjustment of transformation in the life of a family with a HIV/AIDS?”

The Objectives

From the research question presented, the researchers formulated

the following objectives of the study:

1. To know the effects of HIV in their social life.

2. To identify the different areas that will be affected in this certain
person’s life.
3. To know how the family adjusts to one another and accept
each other.
4. To know the adjustments and the different transformation that
they must do in order to fight this condition.
5. To know if this will weakens or strengthens the family bond as
they undergo in this fight towards HIV/AIDS.
6. To know if they faced or handle their situation.
The Research Postulates

From the formulated objectives, the researchers came up with the

following assumptions:

1. The researchers believe that because of the stigma towards

HIV/AIDS positive people they will be received negatively by
most people. HIV/AIDS can cause dementia and neuropathy,
two illnesses that greatly affects cognitive function and thus their
social lives.
2. The researchers believe that after finding out you have HIV. You
may feel overwhelmed and you have a Fear about the future
may make it hard for you to take action, but being HIV positive
isn't a death sentence.
3. The researchers believe that the HIV/AIDS positive family has
close communication to a doctor because of their condition.
Although there is still no cure for HIV/AIDS there are therapies
that can help a family with HIV/AIDS live a well life.
Explication of Terms

For better understanding of the research, the following terms were

defined according to how they were used in the study.

Epidemic- A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a

community at a particular time.

Disease- A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant,

especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a
specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.

Antiretroviral- Working against or targeted against retroviruses, especially

HIV.

Condoms- A thin rubber sheath worn on a man's penis during sexual

intercourse as a

HIV- Contraceptive Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a

chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV
interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection. or as protection against infection.

AIDS- A disease in which there is a severe loss of the body's cellular

immunity, greatly lowering the resistance to infection and malignancy.

Episodic disabilities- Are long-term conditions that are characterized by

periods of good health interrupted by periods of illness or disability. These
periods may vary in severity, length and predictability from one person to
another.

Toxoplasmosis- A disease caused by toxoplasmas, transmitted chiefly

through undercooked meat, or in soil or cat feces. Symptoms generally
pass unremarked in adults, but infection can be dangerous to unborn
children.

Cytomegalovirus- A kind of herpes virus that usually produces very mild

symptoms in an infected person but may cause severe neurological
damage in people with weakened immune systems and in the newborn.
Lymphadenopathy- A disease affecting the lymph nodes.

Lentivirus- Any of a group of retroviruses producing illnesses characterized

by a delay in the onset of symptoms after infection.

Efavirenz - (EFV), sold under the brand names Sustiva among others, is an
antiretroviral medication used to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS.