Demographic Data of African American people

Demographic Data of African American People

The statistical data shows that there is an incidence of 12.6 per 100,000 people of the HIV/AIDS condition in the community of interest. The prevalence of the condition is 42.1%. The distribution of the condition by ethnicity/race is that African Americans bear the greatest burden of the condition. The distribution by gender is that females have a greater burden than males. The five risk factors associated with the condition are the presence of a sexually transmitted infection, unprotected sexual intercourse, having multiple partners, high-risk partners, and sharing sharp objects. The disease trend over the five years is that new infections on HIV have declined by 8%. Several interventions on HIV have proved to be highly effective in reducing the risk of spread, protecting against HIV, use of antiretrovirals and preexposure prophylaxis and behavior change to counter HIV spread. Risk reduction programs to educate especially at-risk populations, have helped in reducing the HIV trends over the years.

Health Problems Within a Community

A community is a social group occupying a large geographical area. A community health needs assessment is a collaborative process that identifies and assesses primary healthcare needs and requirements. The method also entails identifying needs and creating the framework for addressing unmet healthcare needs. In addition to fulfilling ACA regulatory standards, needs evaluations: offer additional timely input from the surrounding area and suppliers; sum up qualitative sources associated with health situations and markers; collect information to direct information processing, marketing initiatives and the advancement of a planning process; and inspire public outreach and local involvement that notifies the prospect of healthcare provision.

Health Problems Within a Community

The population designated to comprehend this assessment is the African American ethnic group, both male and female. The specific population selected for this study was college and university students aged 18-34 years and with an income level of $25,000-$50,000. This paper addresses the pertinent issues related to health for college and university students by addressing the specific public health problems amongst them. Mental health continues to be the leading public health issue for this population. According to CDC reports, 11.2% of adults aged 18 and above have regular mental health issues. Also, tobacco and substance abuse are a major public health concern since it contributes to altering the status of their mental health and overall health. HIV/AIDS is also on the rise amongst college students since most of this population is sexually active. Also, due to their indulgence in risky sexual behaviors and sometimes engaging in these behaviors under the intoxication of drugs.

The AIDS epidemic is a worldwide health concern that must be addressed. Although the rate of new HIV infections is decreasing, around 44,000 persons were diagnosed with the condition in 2014. In all, roughly 1.2 million Individuals in the U.S. have HIV, with around thirteen percent unaware that they are sick. HIV and AIDS claim the lives of over seven thousand persons every year (Rezaei et al.,2019). Raising public awareness about HIV prevention measures, such as celibacy, proper condom use, and not sharing needles.

MSN, (homosexuals, bisexuals, and other males who have sexual encounters with males) are the most HIV-positive people in the U.S., accounting for 69 percent of new HIV diagnoses. Between 2014 and 2018, Afro-American MSM accounted for more than 36% of HIV cases among MSM in the United States and six dependent regions, whereas White MSM accounted for more than 30%. Black/African American MSM accounted for twenty-six percent of HIV diagnoses and Thirty-eight percent of all MSM infections in 2018. Latino MSM contributed to 22 percent of new HIV infections and 32.5 percent of all MSM infections in 2018. The total rates of HIV infections among MSM dropped, although patterns differed by racial group (Laurencin et al., 2018). From 2014 to 2018:  HIV infections declined or remained consistent among MSM aged thirteen to twenty-four years across all race-based groupings. Cases amongst Indian Native and other Native Hawaiian MSM aged twenty-four and older have risen.

In 2018, transgender individuals contributed to around 2% of all HIV Infections. From 2014 to 2018, HIV cases among transgender teens and adults increased in the United States and six protectorates. HIV transmissions among transsexual male-to-female people were detected at the greatest incidence (ninety-three percent) in transgender teens and adults in 2018. In 2018, transgender MTF teens and young adults aged 20-24 years obtained many HIV prevalence infections (twenty-four percent), followed by transgender MTF adolescents and adults aged 25-29 years (23 percent). In the United States and six protectorates, straight people accounted for twenty-three HIV infections in 2018. Straight women made up five percent of new HIV diagnoses, whereas straight men made up seven percent.

The risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS among these students are mainly based on the fact that most are sexually active. However, some risky sexual behaviors put them at risk of contracting the disease. Indulging in sexual activity without condom use, infrequent condoms, and having multiple sexual partners. Some students practice risky sexual behaviors due to peer pressure for financial gain, prestige, to get good grades, and as a way of relieving stress (Rezaei et al., 2019). Also, some have low knowledge levels regarding testing, HIV status, and how they perceive risks. Moreover, behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse contribute to this.

By racial group, HIV continues to afflict Blacks and Hispanics proportionately: In 2018, Blacks made up thirteen percent of the U.S. populace but were responsible for forty-four percent of HIV Cases. Hispanics made up eighteen percent of the U.S. total population in 2018, yet they were responsible for 30% of HIV Cases. Between 2014 and 2018, HIV cases in Blacks, whites, Asians, and people of mixed ethnicities declined. HIV cases rose among American Indians and Pacific Islanders but stayed steady among Hispanics, Indigenous People and other Pacific Islanders (Laurencin et al., 2018). The majority of additional HIV cases in 2018 was greatest among those aged 25 to 29 years old. Throughout 2014 and 2018, HIV cases among those aged thirteen to twenty-four years, thirty-five to forty-four years, and 45 to 54 years increased. Diagnostic tests were steady in people between the ages 25 to 35 years and in people aged 55 or above.

HIV diagnoses are not uniformly spread across the country. The yearly incidence and prevalence of HIV prevalence diagnoses in the United States and six dependent areas dropped from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, the South had a rate of 15.3, the Northeastern had a rating of 9.6, the West had a 9.1, and the Midwestern had a rate of 7.2 percent. The number of persons infected with HIV declined by 8% between 2014 and 2018 (Sullivan et al., 2021). Between 2014 and 2018, the number of reported cases of young sexual minority men decreased by thirty-three percent overall, with decreases in adolescent boys of all ethnicities; however, African Americans and Hispanics continue to be significantly impacted. As evidenced by the present decline in HIV infection rates, previous measures to lower HIV prevalence have been effective in the United States.

Part 2: Fact sheet

HIV/AIDS among College Students

HIV infections are on the rise, and the population affected mainly are university and college students aged between 18-24 years with an income level of $25,000-$50,000. Approximately 1.2 million of the U.S. population are affected by this infection, with over 7,000 deaths annually.

 Risk factors

Ø  Presence of a sexually transmitted infection such as gonorrhea, syphilis, genital warts, chlamydia, and herpes.

Ø  Indulging in unprotected anal, oral, or vaginal sex and especially while having multiple sexual partners

Ø  Sharing sharp objects such as needles and other objects used to inject drugs.

Ø  Having a high-risk partner or who is already infected

 Steps to Prevent

Ø  Knowing your status

Ø  A high-risk group of people should take preexposure prophylaxis to reduce HIV risk before being infected.

Ø  Use of condoms for both males and females.

Ø  Practicing medical circumcision.

Ø  Eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Ø  Wear gloves and a mask while performing procedures involving bodily fluids.

Ø  Ensure all blood products are screened for HIV before donation.

Resources to address HIV

Ø  AIDinfo

Ø  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Ø  HIV.gov

Ø  Black AIDS Institute

Ø  Department of Veterans Affairs

References

Laurencin, C. T., Murdock, C. J., Laurencin, L., & Christensen, D. M. (2018). HIV/AIDS and the African-American community 2018: a decade call to action. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 5(3), 449-458.

Rezaei, S., Ahmadi, S., Rahmati, J., Hosseinifard, H., Dehnad, A., Aryankhesal, A., ... & Ghashghaee, A. (2019). The global prevalence of depression in HIV/AIDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ supportive & palliative care, 9(4), 404-412.

 Sullivan, P. S., Johnson, A. S., Pembleton, E. S., Stephenson, R., Justice, A. C., Althoff, K. N., ... & Beyrer, C. (2021). Epidemiology of HIV in the USA: epidemic burden, inequities, contexts, and responses. The Lancet.

Needs Assessment

Gather assessment data about the community or region you chose. Use the CDC and the United States Census Bureau websites as the sources for your information.

Demographic Data

Name of Community/Region: African American people

Total Population: 41.99 million

List Three Public Health Problems Identified From the Needs Assessment

Select the Problem or Condition You Will Be Addressing Based on the Data Presented

●        State the public health problem or condition you choose. HIV/AIDS

●        Explain why: HIV/AIDS contributes to an increased health expenditure in the public and private health sectors due to the high level of care needed for these patients and is a major global health issue.

●        Provide the following data on your select problem or condition.

Identify Who Bears the Burden of This Condition in Your Community of Interest

Select your target population. Use data to explain why this population bears the burden of the condition.

Distribution of Select Condition by Ethnicity/Race

Distribution of Select Condition by Gender

List Five Risk Factors Associated With the Select Condition

Discuss the Disease Trends Presented in the Table

Is the condition declining, increasing, or same over the 5-year period displayed?

Answer here: new infections on HIV have declined by 8%.

Are previous interventions working based on the trends shown in the table?

Explain your response: Several interventions on HIV have proved to be highly effective in reducing the risk of spread, protecting against HIV, use of antiretrovirals and pre-exposure prophylaxis and behavior change to counter HIV spread. Risk reduction programs to educate especially at-risk populations have helped in reducing the HIV trends over the years.