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Health Impact Framework/Research Paper

Lauren Moses

Delaware Tech Community College

NUR310 Global Health

Dr Rosati

February 19, 2023

Introduction

HIV/AIDS is a viral infection caused by the “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” HIV.

The HIV virus leads an impaired immune system and a diminished ability to fight off additional

infections in the human body. Sexual transmission of HIV is possible, as is transmission by

contact with infected blood, sperm, or vaginal fluids. Although there is no therapy that has been

shown to eradicate the effects of HIV/AIDS, there are several drugs and medications are

available for managing with the disease.

Currently, HIV/AIDS is especially more severe in several parts of Africa as compared to

other continents. The HIV pandemic is a major health crisis on a global scale that has many

devastating impacts to the society, and the economy. Almost 69 percent of the over 34 million

people infected with HIV globally originate from Sub-Saharan Africa. Ninety percent of the

world's infected children and ninety-two percent of the world's infected expectant moms live in

Africa (Odugbesan & Rjoub, 2019).

Current Status

Around forty million individuals have lost their lives due to HIV infections. The

worldwide trends in HIV infection demonstrate an overall increase in the prevalence of HIV and

a large decline in the number of deaths related to AIDS, which may be led mainly by the benefits

of antiretroviral therapy for surviving the condition. For the people of sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS

has become the leading cause of death. The life expectancy of newborns has fallen significantly

in many African countries, rolling back progress made after independence. Children and

adolescents in Africa account for more than 90 percent of people who have lost close families

and parents due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Odugbesan & Rjoub, 2019). This has also led to an

enormous birthrate and a high AIDS death rate in the African continent. 
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Health Impact Pyramid

The HIV/AIDS Health Impact Pyramid lets us know the types of interventions that are

most likely to succeed in stopping the spread of HIV in Africa. Interventions at each tier of the

pyramid should be prioritized if they are to have the greatest possible long-term impact on public

health due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Initiatives aimed at improving population health include activities such as public health

education initiatives, gender equality campaigns, and efforts to increase the accessibility

of primary care. Safer sexual habits, such as the using condoms and a reduction of sexual

partners, are promoted and made easier thanks to these activities, as is HIV testing and treatment.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART), psychological support, and nutritional assistance comprise the

third tier of care for HIV/AIDS patients. These campaigns aim to eliminate the social barriers

that hinder people with HIV/AIDS from easy access to medical care when needed. The greatest

way to reduce deaths caused by HIV/AIDS is to ensure everyone who needs them has access to

antiretroviral therapy and other forms of care, such as palliative and hospice care (ART).

Infection Growth Rate

After so many years of effort, Africa has significantly reduced the rate at which new

HIV/AIDS infections occur in the continent. All over Africa, the pace of new infections has fell

by more than a third. However, two-thirds of the world's new infections still occur in sub-

Saharan Africa, and young women constantly bear a disproportionate share of this burden

(McGee, 2020). Teenage girls and young women of 15 to 24 years of age have up to eight times

the rate of HIV infection as young males their age. The absence of women-initiated HIV

preventive technology is particularly problematic for women who have problems accessing the
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new HIV prevention choices, like sexual intercourse abstinence, behavioral modifications, use

of condoms, male medical circumcision, and early infection treatment, in their marriages.

An encouraging sign on the global horizon is the significant drop in new HIV infections

among African children of up to nine years old, mainly attributable to intensified efforts to

prevent the transfer of HIV from mothers to their children. Estimates put the percentage of a

drop in such infections at 52%. The continued decline in AIDS-related deaths in the African

Region is mainly attributed to the rising prevalence of antiretroviral therapy (McGee, 2020).

Local HIV/AIDS programs, reinforced by the work of civil society and a wide range of

development partners, are mainly responsible for such decline in infection growth.

Current Challenges

A significant number of Africans often confront legal and societal hurdles, which not

only make them more susceptible to HIV but also make it more difficult for them to obtain

prevention, testing, and treatment options. There are still challenges to overcome despite Africa's

progress in the war against HIV/AIDS. Two-thirds of the world's newly diagnosed cases of HIV

are still attributed to the African continent (Oyeniran & CLN, 2021). For some people, the first

time they are confirmed with the infection is after they have been sent to the hospital following a

seizure. Caregivers and HIV-positive people in sub-Saharan Africa are often stuck due to the

challenge of receiving an accurate diagnosis and the limited availability of contemporary

treatments. Medical professionals often have to choose between tackling the life-threatening HIV

infection and preventing seizures, which may occur if the condition is left undetected for too

long.

African Cultures and Beliefs

Scarification, circumcision, and genital tattooing are examples of traditional surgical

practices identified in the research as potential sources of HIV/AIDS infections. This is

especially true when the procedures are carried out on groups of people and when there is

repeated use of unsterilized equipment. For instance, indigenous medical practitioners merely

rinse knives in water between patients to sterilize them before performing procedures like male

circumcision, tattooing, and face scarification. Due to this practice, future patients are at risk of

contracting the body fluids of previously treated patients. One should also consider the likelihood

that traditional healers themselves get infected with HIV while delivering treatments. This would

mean that they might be a transmission source if they have open sores on their bodies.

Health Determinants

Prevention and educational HIV/AIDS programs have begun in many African nations too

late. This has led to a lack of success. Since so many governments chose to disregard the

sickness, it was allowed to spread unchecked for twenty years. Even today, a significant portion

of the public has an insufficient understanding of the HIV (Oyeniran & CLN, 2021). Since most

people do not have access to education, it is one of the primary obstacles standing in the way of

enlightenment.

Male promiscuity is a primary method of HIV and AIDS transmission in Africa.

Faithfulness gives little protection to spouses whose partners have numerous relationships or

were infected before marriage. Cultural expectations have pushed males to have several partners,

while women are supposed to abstain or remain loyal.  The vast majority of infected couples in

Africa live in marriages that are either HIV-discordant or serodiscordant, which means that only

one of the two partners is infected while the other is not. This is the most common form of HIV

transmission in the region (Oyeniran & CLN, 2021). Most HIV prevention efforts are
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concentrated on males since it is generally accepted that men are more likely to be the HIV-

positive half of a couple.

The increasing demand for medical treatment brought on by HIV-related disorders places

a significant strain on public health systems, which are already operating at or near capacity.

Even though more individuals are gaining access to AIDS testing and HIV medicines, medical

care in Africa remains inadequate (McGee, 2020). For instance, infants may be shielded against

the possibility of mother-to-child transmission. But, healthcare systems in Africa are not yet

capable of keeping up with the demands of the battle against the spread of the AIDS pandemic. It

does not have any hospitals or medical professionals.

Opportunities

The lifecycle approach to preventing HIV/IDS acknowledges the interdependence of

mothers, children, and adolescents and emphasizes treatments that positively affect all these

demographic groups. Activities that combine various health treatments, such as breastfeeding

and access to contraception, have notably far-reaching effects throughout the lifespan and in the

community. The lifecycle approach provides new opportunities for women and children to

participate in care coordination that incorporates HIV/AIDS prevention and management into an

optimum level and validated therapeutic interventions in the health care system. 

Conclusion

In order to improve the prevention strategies and techniques of HIV/AIDS in Africa,

it will be necessary to increase condoms usage, implement programs to encourage moral sexual

behavior, develop low-cost techniques for infection prevention in groups with high risk of

infections, and expand therapies for preventing mother-to-child transfer to achieve the goal of

reducing the number of new infections. Overall, HIV oriented policies, good leadership from
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both state and society, and vigorous participation from people who live with HIV will be

necessary for Africa to continue the progress it has made so far and to accomplish the global

development objectives.

Combating hunger and poverty and promoting gender equality are all essential SDGs to

help eradicate AIDS in Africa. The risk of contracting HIV is higher among the poor. Women's

lagging economic participation hinders AIDS prevention and treatment. Individuals and families

living with HIV have a higher risk of entering and staying in poverty. Hungry people are more

likely to engage in risky behavior, which may increase their chances of contracting HIV, and are

less likely to stick to their treatment plans. An advanced HIV-related sickness lowers nutritional

status and threatens family food security by lowering production. Women of childbearing age are

more vulnerable to HIV infection. HIV-positive women are generally subjected to more physical

and sexual abuse than other women.

References

McGee, C. (2020). The continuing impact of HIV/AIDS on development in Africa: A systematic

analysis using the political systems and contagious disease theories. Africa and

Globalization: Novel Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 171-187.

Odugbesan, J. A., & Rjoub, H. (2019). Relationship among HIV/AIDS prevalence, human

capital, good governance, and sustainable development: Empirical evidence from Sub-

Saharan Africa. Sustainability, 11(5), 1348.

Oyeniran, G. K., & CLN, G. K. O. P. (2021). UTILIZATION OF INDIGENOUS

KNOWLEDGE AND THE ATTAINMENT OF SDGs IN AFRICA: ISSUES AND

CHALLENGES.