SOC 466 Prof. C.

Campbell
AIDS & Society PSY-128
Fall 2018 562/985-4617
LA5-150 carole.campbell@csulb.edu

Office Hours:
MW 8:30-9:30 a.m.
12:30-1:30 p.m (Except 1st Monday)

Overview:
This course examines the history of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic from a medical sociology perspective. The
course deals with two overarching topics: prevention and treatment. We will examine HIV risk behavior and
approaches aimed at controlling the pandemic.
This course will demonstrate how the pandemic’s continuing spread is the result of social forces that define disease,
shape individual risk and health behavior and restructure health care institutions. This course will illustrate
sociologically how HIV/AIDS is a behaviorally-based epidemic and how its control depends on behavioral change.
Structural variables such as poverty, sexism, racism, and discrimination will be examined for their role in the spread of
the pandemic. Sexual identities, gender roles, gender power relations, and gender-based violence are given
substantial treatment.
At the completion of the course, you will have a greater understanding of why the global HIV/AIDS pandemic has
been so difficult to control and why it continues to present such challenges to prevention and treatment. You will
have a greater awareness of how our society has been changed forever by this pandemic.

Expected Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, you will have gained skills in acquiring a basic understanding of the:
a) Nature and scope of the global pandemic
b) Social epidemiology of HIV/AIDS
c) Modes of transmission of HIV
d) Risk behaviors for contracting HIV
e) Approaches to prevention of HIV
f) Theories of behavioral change
g) Approaches to treatment of HIV/AIDS
h) Impact of HIV/AIDS on medical care
i) Impact of HIV/AIDS on families and communities
j) Social justice and social change at community, national, and international levels

Course Requirements

Required Readings
Espejo, R. (ed.) AIDS: Opposing Viewpoints , Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2012.
Yount, L. (ed.) The Discovery of the AIDS Virus. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2003
(available in limited supply).
Please note that both books are on a 1-day reserve at the library.

Optional Reading:
Campbell, C.A. Women, Families and HIV/AIDS: A Sociological Perspective on the Epidemic in America. New York:
Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Exams:
There are 2 non-cumulative exams, each consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each and 25 true-
false questions worth 1 point each. Each exam is worth 125 points or 31% of your final grade. You will need a
Scantron Form 882 and a no. 2 pencil for each exam. Exam dates are 10/10 & 12/12.
Papers:
There are 2 written assignments, one on HIV/AIDS prevention and the other on HIV/AIDS care, each worth 75 points
or 19% of your final grade. The paper on prevention requires you to evaluate a HIV/AIDS prevention strategy and is
due on 10/3. The paper on care requires you to interview a care provider who delivers HIV/AIDS services and is due
on 11/7. More detailed instructions for each assignment are provided later in the syllabus. Papers will be graded on
the basis of content, clarity, organization, and comprehensiveness. Late papers will be accepted only 1 week after
the due date and will result in a 15-point deduction.

Grades:
The two exams are each worth 125 points and the two written assignments, 75 points each, thus making a total of
400 points possible. Grades are based on the following scale:

Grade Per Exam Total

A 125- 113 400-360 Paper 1 19% (10/3)
B 112- 100 359-320 Exam 1 31% ((10/10)
C 99- 88 319-280 Paper 2 19% (11/7)
D 87- 75 279-240 Exam 2 31% (12/12)
F 74- 239-

Expectations and Special Considerations:

University policy on attendance, withdrawal, cheating, and plagiarism (as stated in the university catalog and
schedule of classes) will be upheld. Arrangements to take make-up exams must be made prior to the exam date.
Only those with documented excused absences will be allowed to make up exams. Arrangements to take a make-up
exam must be made prior to the exam date. Excused absences include: illness or injury to the student,; death, injury
or serious illness of an immediate family member or the like; religious reasons (CA Educ. Code section 89320); jury
duty or govt. obligation; and university sanctioned/approved activities.
It is your responsibility to withdraw from classes. During the final three weeks of instruction, withdrawals are
permitted only for serious and compelling reasons. Students with disabilities should notify me of any need for
accommodations.
You are expected to get to class on time, attend regularly, participate actively, and stay for the entire duration of
class. Please turn off cell phones and other electronic devices during class. Laptops are permitted only for lecture
notes. The class will take a lecture-discussion format. You are expected to do the required reading by the assigned
date. Films shown in class are required viewing and you will be responsible for their content. They are not intended as
a substitute for lectures or readings.
Allow sufficient time to do the written assignments as you will not have an opportunity to rewrite them. Papers
should be turned in at the beginning of class on the assigned date. Emailed copies are not acceptable. Late papers
will be accepted only up to 1 week after the due date and will result in a 15-point deduction per class missed.
Considerable flexibility has been built into the design of the course in order to allow for changes and developments
in the pandemic. The course is designed to be an active, stimulating, and collaborative learning process. It deals with
subject matter that is often highly politically charged and emotional for many people. A complete understanding of this
disease is possible only through an examination of a number of sensitive and controversial issues.
Thoughtful discussion will help the course be a collaborative learning experience for everyone. You are
encouraged to share your opinion and your perspective is welcomed. However, as a participant in this class, it is your
responsibility to respond sensitively and respectfully to viewpoints expressed in class discussions and in course
material that may be different from your own.

Course Schedule
Readings

Weeks 1 – 7 Weeks 8– 15
Yount: pp. 8-17; Ch. 1 Yount: Ch. 2
Espejo: pp. 11-17, Chs. 1 & 2 Espejo: Chs. 3 & 4
Exam 1 Exam 2

Topics:
Weeks 1-6:
Epidemiology of the Global Pandemic
History of the U.S. Epidemic
Transmission, HIV/AIDS Risk Behavior, & Safer Sex
Testing, Disclosure, & Partner Notification
HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

Week 6: Prevention Paper Due

Week 7: Exam 1 (Weeks 1-6)

Weeks 8-15:

HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

Gender Identities, Gender Roles, Youth & Sexuality
Race, Racism, Culture & Class
HIV/AIDS Treatment & Care
HIV/AIDS, Families, and Communities, Popular Culture
HIV/AIDS Social Justice, Advocacy & Activism
Social Change & Social Policy
Global Response to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

Week 12: Care Paper Due

Week 16: Exam 2 (Weeks 8-15)

Dec. 17: Return for exams & get final scores.

10:15-11:30 a.m.

HIV/AIDS Prevention Paper:

This assignment requires you to evaluate a major HIV/AIDS prevention strategy aimed at controlling HIV/AIDS in a
specified population. . It should be a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention approach for which there are data. You
will examine prevention from beginning to end stages (transmission  target population  risk behaviors
prevention strategy). Your evaluation should be evidence based. So choose a prevention strategy that you can
support with data.
For this paper you will first want to Identify a mode of HIV transmission and discuss its prevalence (the total
number of HIV/AIDS cases related to this particular type of transmission). Then identify a target population at risk
from this mode of transmission and describe its risk behaviors. Explain why this particular target population’s risk
behavior presents challenges for HIV/AIDS prevention. Next describe the prevention strategy and its rationale.
Then using existing data, critically evaluate the prevention strategy’s effectiveness in curbing the spread of
HIV/AIDS.
Pay particular attention to issues of race, class, gender, and social inequality and address them in your discussion.
Keep in mind that HIV/AIDS prevention is a global effort. So you are encouraged to evaluate prevention strategies in
developing countries. Wherever possible, you will want to draw on course readings, lectures, and discussions.
Format should be 3-4 double-spaced pages . It is okay to go over the page limit but not under. Include a works
cited page that lists at least 3 sources excluding class lectures.

HIV/AIDS Care Paper

This assignment will help you understand the challenges of providing HIV/AIDS care to persons with HIV/AIDS. It
also will introduce you to the diverse array of services available to treat HIV/AIDS. For this paper, conduct an interview
with a HIV/AIDS care provider (cp) who delivers treatment and care to persons with HIV/AIDS. A cp can include a
range of health professionals such as a health care administrator, physician, physician’s assistant, nurse, nurse
practitioner, case manager, and treatment advocate. Any health professional who delivers services to patients with
HIV/AIDS can be interviewed for this assignment. However, they must work in the community. Interviews with health
professionals on campus are not acceptable for this assignment.
Keep in mind that your are dealing with an extremely sensitive topic. So do respect the confidentiality of persons
who receive HIV/AIDS services. It is important to conduct your interview professionally since you represent the
university. This assignment requires you to interview the HIV/AIDS care provider in his/her work setting. So phone
and email interviews are not acceptable.
Papers should be at least 5 pages. Again it is okay to go over the page limit but not under. Do this assignment
single-spaced in question-and-answer (rather than paragraph) format. First state the question in bold type and then
provide your answer. Double space between questions. Papers should provide a detailed description and analysis of
your interview. As in the first paper, you will want to address gender, race, class and social inequality issues.

(This section should be single-spaced.)

Answer the following questions about the cp you interview:

1. Give the name and title of the cp, Include a business card (or other documentation of your interview) from the cp.
Give the date, time of day, and amount of time you spent on the interview. Describe the setting
in which this cp works (clinic, hospital, etc.). (5 points)
2. Describe how you found the cp and explain why you chose this person to interview. (2 points)
3. Describe the patients served by this cp (5 points)
4. How long has this cp worked in HIV/AIDS care & in this specific position (if different)?(2 points)
5. What training did this cp have for this position? (2 points)
6. Does this cp work in a setting with other HIV/AIDS cp’s ? If so, which ones?
Does this cp make referrals to other HIV/AIDS cp’s? If so, which ones? (5 points)
7. What are some of the cp’s challenges and successes working in HIV/AIDS care? (15 points)
8. What is the most important point the cp would make about HIV/AIDS care? (5 points)
9. Does this cp intend to remain working in HIV/AIDS care? Why or why not? (2 points)
10. Based on data gathered in this interview, would you consider working in HIV/AIDS care?
Why or why not? (2 points)

This section can be double-spaced and written in paragraph form but identify the question.
Drawing upon course lectures, discussions, & readings:
11. Describe the work setting and analyze your interview with the cp. (15 points)
12. Critically evaluate the role of this cp in providing HIV/AIDS care. Would you seek services there? (15 points)

If you asked additional questions, include them here.

Extra-Credit Opportunity
It is possible to earn extra-credit by volunteering at an agency that provides HIV/AIDS services. However, this
opportunity is extended only to those who complete all assignments on time throughout the semester. It cannot be
used to replace assignments or class attendance. Therefore, use of extra-credit will be closely monitored. This
optional assignment is intended to expose you to HIV/AIDS service delivery. You can earn 10 extra-credit points (5
hrs. @ 2 points) by volunteering at an agency that provides services for persons with HIV/AIDS. You will need to
contact an agency and make arrangements on your own. You can volunteer at any time during the semester but you
need to provide documentation of your hours by the last day of class.