HIV-affected community

HIV-Affected community
SpecialtyHIV/AIDS
Risk factorsMainly unprotected sex
Diagnostic methodCommunity-based Diagnosis methods

The affected community (also known as the HIV-affected community) is composed of people who are living with HIV and AIDS, plus individuals whose lives are directly influenced by HIV infection.[1][2] This originally was defined as young to middle aged adults who associate with being gay or bisexual men, and or injection drug users. HIV-affected community is a community that is affected directly or indirectly affected by HIV. These communities are usually influenced by HIV and undertake risky behaviours that lead to a higher chance of HIV infection.[3] To date HIV infection is still one of the leading cause of deaths around the world with an estimate of 36.8 million people diagnosed with HIV by the end of 2017,[4] but there can particular communities that are more vulnerable to HIV infection, these communities include certain races, gender, minorities, and disadvantaged communities.[5] One of the most common communities at risk is the gay community as it is commonly transmitted through unsafe sex.[6]  The main factor that contributes to HIV infection within the gay/bisexual community is that gay men do not use protection when performing anal sex or other sexual activities which can lead to a higher risk of HIV infections.[7] Another community will be people diagnosed with mental health issues, such as depression is one of the most common related mental illnesses associated with HIV infection.[8] HIV testing is an essential role in reducing HIV infection within communities as it can lead to prevention and treatment of HIV infections but also helps with early diagnosis of HIV.[9] Educating young people in a community with the knowledge of HIV prevention will be able to help decrease the prevalence within the community. As education is an important source for development in many areas. Research has shown that people more at risk for HIV are part of disenfranchised and inner city populations as drug use and sexually transmitted diseases(STDs) are more prevalent.[3][10] People with mental illnesses that inhibit making decisions or overlook sexual tendencies are especially at risk for contracting HIV.[3]

  1. ^ Why Some With HIV Are Healthier
  2. ^ Practice for the Real World Serving the HIV Infected and Affected Community
  3. ^ a b c Hiv.gov. (2020). What are hiv and aids?. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids
  4. ^ admin. "Global". Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  5. ^ Phillips, Gregory; Lindeman, Peter; Adames, Christian N.; Bettin, Emily; Bayston, Christopher; Stonehouse, Patrick; Kern, David; Johnson, Amy K.; Brown, C. Hendricks; Greene, George J. (2019). "Empowerment Evaluation: A Case Study of Citywide Implementation within an HIV Prevention Context". American Journal of Evaluation. 40 (3): 318–334. doi:10.1177/1098214018796991. PMC 6934361. PMID 31885461.
  6. ^ Halkitis, P. N.; Parsons, J. T. (2003). "Intentional unsafe sex (Barebacking) among HIV-positive gay men who seek sexual partners on the Internet". AIDS Care. 15 (3): 367–378. doi:10.1080/0954012031000105423. PMID 12745400. S2CID 1711930.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Pence, Brian Wells; Gaynes, Bradley N.; Whetten, Kathryn; Eron, Joseph J.; Ryder, Robert W.; Miller, William C. (2005). "Validation of a Brief Screening Instrument for Substance Abuse and Mental Illness in HIV-Positive Patients". Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 40 (4): 434–444. doi:10.1097/01.qai.0000177512.30576.9c. PMID 16280698. S2CID 45887529.
  9. ^ Bradley, H.; Hall, H. I.; Wolitski, R. J.; Van Handel, M. M.; Stone, A. E.; Laflam, M.; Skarbinski, J.; Higa, D. H.; Prejean, J.; Frazier, E. L.; Patel, R.; Huang, P.; An, Q.; Song, R.; Tang, T.; Valleroy, L. A. (2014). "Vital Signs: HIV diagnosis, care, and treatment among persons living with HIV--United States, 2011". MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 63 (47): 1113–1117. PMC 5779517. PMID 25426654.
  10. ^ Kelly, Jeffrey A.; Murphy, Debra A.; Sikkema, Kathleen J.; Kalichman, Seth C. (1993). "Psychological interventions to prevent HIV infection are urgently needed: New priorities for behavioral research in the second decade of AIDS". American Psychologist. 48 (10): 1023–1034. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.48.10.1023. ISSN 1935-990X. PMID 8256875.