Question

 

This week, we are learning about communicable diseases or those diseases that are infectious and the role of public health in detection, treatment, prevention and in some cases eradication. Select a topic from below and post your discussion. Make sure to provide an example in your discussion post. 

Discuss the burden of disease caused by communicable diseases and provide an example.

Discuss the criteria that are used to establish that an organism is a contributory cause of a disease

Discuss the factors that affect the transmissibility of a disease and provide an example

Discuss the roles that barrier protections play in preventing communicable diseases and provide an example

Discuss the roles that vaccinations can play in preventing communicable diseases and provide an example

Discuss the roles that screening, case finding, and contact treatment can play in preventing communicable diseases

Discuss the conditions that make eradication of a disease feasible

Discuss a range of options for controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic and provide an example

Your post must be at minimum two paragraphs (five sentences per paragraph) in APA format (in text citations and bibliography).

 

Course - Public health

Answer 1

Q) Topic- Discuss a range of options for controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic and provide an example.

Answer-

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a syndrome caused by a virus called HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). The disease alters the immune system, and makes people more vulnerable to infections and diseases. HIV is transmitted by the body fluids of an infected person ( like semen, vaginal fluids, blood). It passes from one person to another by blood-to-blood contact and sexual contact. The rate at which the virus progresses in body varies from person to person and depends on many factors. These factors are - the age of the individual, body's ability to defend against HIV, access to healthcare, presence of other infections, individual's genetic inheritance, and resistance to some strains of HIV.

Various modes of transmission of HIV are ,Sexual transmission — In this mode a person gets infected by the disease when he/ she comes in contact with infected sexual fluids. This happens ,while having sex without a condom, it includes vaginal, oral, and anal sex, or at times sharing sex toys with someone who is HIV-positive.The second mode of transmission is by Perinatal transmission — a mother transmits HIV to her child at the time of childbirth, during pregnancy, and also while breastfeeding.

Blood transfusion is another mode of transmission of HIV. if a person's blood having HIV is given to a normal person, than the disease gets transmitted , but this mode of transmission has reduced to a great extent, due to increased awareness among people, also HIV gets transmitted by use of used syringes ,contaminated with HIV-infected blood while taking drugs specially in case of drug addicts.

At present there is no such cure for HIV or AIDS. Treatments available can stop or reduce ,the progress of the disease and can allow people to live an extended life, but can not give a complete cure. So prevention is the better option to be safe. Various preventive measures- are use of condoms for every sexual act, limiting the number of sexual partners, sharing of needles should be avoided. If someone wants to use a needle, it should be clean, unused and unshared.

Health care workers who handle contaminated blood samples, are more prone to HIV. This can be prevented by use of barriers like (gloves, masks, protective eyewear, shields, and gowns), by frequent and thorough washing of the skin immediately, after coming in contact with blood or other body fluids, it reduces the chance of infection.During pregnancy some Anti Retroviral drugs can harm the unborn child, but a proper treatment plan can prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby. HIV-infected mothers can also pass the virus by their breast milk to the newborn, but if the mother is taking correct medications, the risk of transmission of the virus gets reduced. Educating the people about the risk factors is essential to prevent the disease from spreading.

Examples of HIV / AIDS epidemic prevention- HIV is an alarming public health issue all over the world. In 2001 United Nations General assembly declared HIV as a global emergency. It is in more alarming state in Africa, due to Their lack of awareness, Gender inequality, differential access to services, lack of infrastructure for prevention programmes , sexual violence and poverty, etc.

The disease mostly affects the productive years of life of a person usually ,below 25 years of age, young women are biologically more susceptible to this disease. Young people in countries where HIV is common, need more precautions than only the use of condoms. They need behavioural changes,comprehensive sexuality education, improved access to care, support and treatment, sustainable access to affordable supplies of medicines and diagnostics. There should also be promotion of advice and support for reducing HIV infection among intravenous drug users.