Globally, Americans have been blamed for creating the virus and spreading the disease worldwide. AIDS has created a symbol for suffering across the globe and this term paper demonstrates two different approaches to the care and concern for those afflicted with the HIVE/AIDS virus. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS, is a disease entity that has been identified since 1 981 among homosexual men and intravenous drug users, witch is characterized by severe weight loss, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes and some AIDS victims develop severe dementia.
AIDS is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIVE), The virus commonly enters the body via blood transfusion or blood contaminates needles and through sexual contact. The virus attacks selected cells in the immune system and produces defects in function. This leaves the body open to an invasion by various infections; therefore, called opportunistic diseases and the development of unusual cancers. The virus also tends to reach certain brain cells.
Since the first AIDS cases were reported in 1 981, through mid-1 991, more than 190,000 AIDS cases and more than 120,000 deaths had en reported in about 1 62 countries worldwide. Sub-Sahara Africa in particular appears to suffer a heavy burden of this illness. So far there is no cure or vaccine that exists. Further study of AIDS patients revealed marked depletion of certain white blood cells, called TO lymphocytes. Then, in 1 983, a T-claustrophobic virus was separately discovered by Robert Gallo at the U. S National Institutes of Health and Luck Moon tagging at France’s Pasteur Institute Modes of Transmission Researchers.
In addition, in the early 1 ass’s, AIDS was mostly only infecting homosexual t has spread to men, women and children of all ages and men. Now, sexualities. Homosexual men are at the highest risk for HIVE/AIDS. Today, more than half of all new infections strike population under the age of 25, primary women, infant and children death rates have risen sharply. If you are not in a monogamous relationship and/or you are not sure if your partner is HIVE positive, you can reduce the risk of getting the virus by using latex or plastic condoms and by not sharing drug needles/equipment or sterilizing them before use.
Sex education should begin in the home before children even start school. If children are going to trust their parents and be able to discuss this issue with them, the parents need to teach their children about their bodies and their sense of self when they are much younger than elementary school. When my generation was in high school, we had basic sex education in biology class. This class was given in our sophomore year for ages 15 – 16 years old. By this time, at least 1/2 of my class already had sex or was thinking about it. This is way too old to be teaching the basics to teens nowadays.
Sex” is a very delicate subject for both parents and teens, no parent wants their child coming home asking for a condom or telling the parent they had sex the night before. The double edge sword to this is what if your teen is pregnant and she does not feel she can come to you with this problem? Sex education starts at home, parents need to keep the communication lines open with their teens and not “freak out” if their teen comes home to discuss something they were not prepared to hear. The HIVE virus comes in several varieties, yet they kill basically the same.
Our understanding of this virus and how it works is essential to finding a cure, and to preventing its spread. A majority of Americans have been exposed to or heard of marijuana. Marijuana is a common drug among all age groups of Americans. It was once legal and still popular. The US government and citizens have now raised the question if the party drug that is known to relax the body and mind should be legalized in the United for medicinal purposes. Marijuana helps cancer patients with pain during treatment, helps AIDS patients regain their appetites, and those with glaucoma have shown improvement in their condition.
Currently, there is no cure for WAITED. If you are infected with the virus, you can receive drugs that will only slow the virus from destroying your immune system. However, there is no way of ridding the virus from your body. AIDS has weakened the confidence we have in the ability of experts to solve problems. This cultural value is blatantly evident in the model of care for AIDS patients. The bulk of care is focused on end stage interventions, when little can be done to extend the life of a patient. The victim becomes faceless medical record numbers, and are dewed in as failures of the medical system.
Further, the American culture promotes autonomy and responsibility. The negative aspect of this cultural orientation is that it often justifies blaming the victims of AIDS. Members of the society believe the illness is the outcome of poor choices, namely engaging in high risk behaviors. American society has labeled the “innocent victims” as infants and hemophilia’s, and the “guilty” as homosexuals or iv drug users. By contrast, in Haiti, individual rights are often under emphasized and unprotected. Social relationships are more important than personal accountability.
As a result of this different cultural perspective, blaming is a less free .NET reaction to the AIDS victim. Despite the Hatpin’s knowledge of the transmission of the virus, the AIDS victim is not cast aside or worse, feared, as in the United States. The Hatpin’s will take care of a member of their community, whereas the American will fear the member. To conclude, I do agree that AIDS patients are feared in our society. Although the risk of acquiring the illness through casual contact is non existent, the fear resists because of the lethality of the disease.
Continued public education is necessary to help dispel the terror. Further, believe more education must be done to inform the public of the changing face of the AIDS victim. The day’s are over when the illness belonged to gay, white men or iv drug users. This is now a heterosexual illness, spreading faster than ever. Until a cure for this disease can be found, AIDS will becomes large part of every culture worldwide. How each culture will deal with this epidemic will depend on its financial resources. Bibliography Bell, Emma, et al.
