Case Study: HIV/AIDS

Behavior: actions that increase exposure: unprotected sexual intercourse (more so

transmitted from male to female), the use of intravenous drug. Actions to help prevent

transmission: Use of condoms, abstinence, monogamy, regulatory testing and prevention

medications such as PrEP. Infection: Tuberculosis is the most common opportunity for

the HIV virus to infect the patient; others are Toxoplasmosis, Cytomegalovirus, and

Candidiasis. Once the Patient has HIV their immune system is lowered which makes

them more susceptible to common illnesses and makes the illness more threatening.

Genetics: Mother-to-child transmission, and biologically transmitted by humans through

“blood to blood” and some bodily fluids. Geography: In the more densely populated

areas the frequency of HIV is higher due to the higher risk of unprotected intercourse.

Environment: built environment: there are new developments in treatments and

prevention medications to help reduce the number infected (a higher risk is shown in

urban areas). Medical care: There are treatment options (usually a regiment of multiple

antibiotics depending on initial viral load) for HIV/AIDS that will help reduce the viral

load in the blood stream to help the patient become “undetectable” as well and dietary

and lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms. There it also an option for “high risk”

patients called PrEP to help prevent them from contracting the virus. Socioeconomic-

cultural: The virus frequency is higher in urban areas and has a negative stigma behind

it. As technology advances, the knowledge about the virus and its affect grow and in turn,

more information gets to the general public about it. In higher populated areas there is

more awareness being put on HIV/AIDS and ways to protect against it or wat to do if you

have it (as well as the stigma of your life being over if you get diagnosed has lessened).
Traditional Public Health helped spread awareness about HIV, how it is transmitted,

treatments and formed prevention efforts against it such as the Hope and Health

foundation where their goal is to “To inspire, equip, and mobilize people to take action

against HIV/AIDS.” (Hope and Health C.F. Foundation). They are part of just one of the

many awareness campaigns that constantly go on for HIV/AIDS that help educate the

community and give free testing for the vulnerable population.

Health care and the health care system has come up with treatment methods and

prevention medications to minimalize the symptoms and the amount of people infected

such as antiviral medication for breastfeeding mothers, postcoital treatments and faster

diagnosis.

The social aspect: for a while there was a very bad stigma attached to being diagnosed

with HIV. Due to the negativity attached and the little knowledge that society had about

HIV, people kept to themselves and often went significant periods with little to no

treatment or how they could pass the virus to others which is how it kept going.

Eventually, the negativity around HIV lessened because society gained more knowledge

and it no longer this crazy unheard-of virus that was a death sentence. More people

sought out help and learned what HIV/AIDS truly was and how clinicians could help.

-Jessica Sotolongo