Hiv / Aids Growing Epidemic Among African Americans

HIV/AIDS the growing epidemic among African Americans April Hampton Excelsior College ILSE SILVA-KROTT October 11, 2015 Abstract In my studies I have found that HIV/AIDS is one of the largest growing epidemics among African American’s. Along with the stigmas individuals have to face, there lay the unspoken thought process of â€Å"It wouldn’t or couldn’t happen to me†. Poverty, severe drug abuse, unprotected sex, and lack of education are just a few contributing factors to the growing numbers related to this infectious disease among the African American communities. When you add all these factors into one community the results is just that of the soaring number of individual infected from young to old. Keywords: African Americans, HIV/AIDS, Epidemic, Infection HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is known as a lentivirus. Lentivirus is an intracellular parasite with either an RNA or DNA genome, which is surrounded by a protective protein coat. This particular virus can only infect humans, weakening their immune system by destroying important cells that usually are used to fight disease and infection. As the HIV infection progresses, the body becomes defenseless continuing to destroy white blood cells. Once the cells drop below a certain level, an infected person will then be classified as having AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). African Americans make up only 12% of the United States population, but 44% of those infected with theShow MoreRelatedHiv And The United States Essay1288 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States have HIV (about 14 percent of which are unaware of their infection and another 1.1 million have progressed to AIDS. Over the past decade, the number of HIV cases in the US has increased, however, the annual number of case s remains stable at about 50, 000 new cases per year. Within these estimates, certain groups tend to carry the burden of these disease, particularly the gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM) and among race/ethnic groups, Blacks/African American males remain disproportionatelyRead MoreAids Prevention And Testing Of Hiv / Aids1205 Words   |  5 PagesLaMaack Mrs. Reaves Advanced Writing 8 October, 2015 AIDS Prevention and Testing â€Å"More than 1.2 million americans are living with HIV, including 156,300 who don’t realize it† (Kaplan). The HIV/AIDS epidemic hit a peak in the 2000’s. These diseases attack the immune system making them incapable of fighting off diseases. Specifically, HIV,human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the immune system, weakening it, and slowly making it produce more HIV-cells. AIDS,acquired immune deficiency syndrome, then takesRead MoreHiv / Aids : A Huge Complication Around The World1562 Words   |  7 PagesHIV/AIDS in Russia versus South Africa HIV/AIDS is becoming a huge complication around the world. More and more countries that are not commonly known to have an issue with AIDS/HIV are developing epidemics. It is common knowledge that South Africa struggles with an HIV/AIDS epidemic, but a lesser known country affected would be Russia. The epidemic spread in Russia because of drug users, prostitutes, and cultural shame. It spread in South Africa because of African men’s refusal to use condoms andRead MoreHealth Issues in Africa1611 Words   |  7 Pagesconcerns are HIV/AIDS, malaria, smoking related disease, and tuberculosis, just to name a few of them but all of which affect the non-white population more than the white; apart form these. HIV/AIDS in Africa The rise of sickness in Africa today is mainly caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is the number one killer in African society today. As many as 5.7 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South AfricaRead MoreAddressing The Issues With Human Immunodeficiency Virus1400 Words   |  6 Pages Carmichael Organization Date: January 19, 2017 RE: AIDS Prevention Treatment The Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV as it is commonly known was first seen in the United States about thirty years ago before it generated the world s attention. Since then thousands of American have lost their lives to AIDS and millions more have become infected. As a health organization, GA Carmichael has a growing population of patients infected with HIV. As the family health organization tries to extend partnershipRead MorePrevalence Of Hiv / Aids1525 Words   |  7 PagesPrevalence of HIV/AIDS in Ohio It was already stated that the HIV/AIDS epidemic impacts persons regardless of sex, age, race/ethnic group and/or geographic region in Ohio, but certain populations seem to be more impacted than others. There are 11, 544,225 people living in Ohio. 80% are white, 12% are black, 3% are Hispanic, and less than 2% are Asian. Each year in Ohio, about 1,000 people are diagnosed with HIV. In 2013, 1,180 people were diagnosed. Overall, there are almost 20,000 known to be livingRead MoreHiv / Aids : A Growing Epidemic1969 Words   |  8 PagesHIV/AIDS in the South: A Growing Epidemic Sociology Group 5 Baptist College of Health Sciences Abstract HIV/AIDS has affected individuals from various walks of life all over the country but over the past decade this disease his greatly impacted the southern region of the United States. Over the years studies have been conducted to determine the contributing factors for this increase of HIV/AIDS rates in the South. Research findings have produced similar conclusions such as high ratesRead MoreThe Continuing Threat of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus603 Words   |  2 PagesImmunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is the virus that causes AIDS, the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Over 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and almost a fifth of HIV infected Americans are unaware of their status. Even though there have been key enhancements in the prevention and treatment of HIV, we continue to see too many new HIV infections accompanied by many AIDS deaths. Nearly every HIV infected person will ultimately develop and die from AIDS, if the virus is untreatedRead MoreAids, Expertise, And The Rise Of American Global Health Science Essay1785 Words   |  8 PagesScrambling for Africa: AIDS, Expertise, and the Rise of American Global Health Science HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, commonly known as AIDS. HIV/AIDS has become one of the most destructive global pandemics in history. In 1990, the World Health Organization estimated that over one million people were living with AIDS, and in less than ten years, HIV had exploded worldwide (Perlin Cohen). Johanna Tayloe Crane, a medical anthropologist, dedicated her career to studyingRead MorePoverty With Hiv And Aids2242 Words   |  9 PagesDue to gaps in policy oversight, the percentage of minorities living with HIV and AIDS in the United States remains high. It has remained high due in part to policies that were implemented during the early 90’s, emblematically The Ryan White Care Act, along with in policy makers for their failure to recognize the special needs and factors that pertain to minority groups, specifically African Americans and Non-white Hispanics. The racial disparities that have historically plagued these minority groups