The prevalence of individuals living with HIV is steadily rising over time. The widespread transmission of HIV is a significant global health concern. The propagation of the virus is most prevalent among low-income minority women, particularly those residing in Africa. For many reasons, these ladies are susceptible to contracting the virus. Nevertheless, certain activities, such as engaging in substantial sexual relations, contribute to the transmission of the infection among individuals. The presentation comprises an analysis of the prevalence of HIV among minority women in Africa, specifically focusing on those from low-income backgrounds.
Health Issue (HIV)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is responsible for inducing infections that have the potential to result in fatality due to the progressive deterioration of the immune system. In the absence of appropriate treatment, HIV can progress to a life-threatening condition referred to as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The high mortality rate linked with AIDS distinguishes it from other diseases. The transmission of HIV can occur via several bodily fluids, including vaginal secretions, semen, breast milk, and blood. The spread of HIV is possible during the process of birthing, hence augmenting the susceptibility of infants to infection (Garnett, 2021). Despite the rapid spread of the disease during the initial months following infection, a considerable proportion of individuals affected remain unaware of their sickness until a somewhat later stage.
Target Population (Low-Income et al. in Africa)
Women from low-income African families who have HIV are the subject of this presentation. Women from low-income families are at a higher risk of contracting HIV due to several variables. Women’s age and marital status, whether single, divorced, or other relationship statuses, strongly impact the HIV prevalence rate. There is a twofold increase in the risk of HIV infection during pregnancy compared to that experienced by women who are not pregnant. However, there is a gender difference in the risk of contracting HIV, with young women being less at risk than their male counterparts. Scholarly research indicates that in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence is shaped more by socioeconomic vulnerability and inequality than by poverty by variance (Sherafat-Kazemzadeh et al., 2021). There are several reasons why women are more likely to become HIV-infected, but sexual assault, a lack of access to sexual and reproductive health care, and inconsistent condom use all play a role. Social deprivation, high unemployment, and inadequate healthcare services are all significant issues.
Intervention Method
Significant advancements have been achieved in the field of interventions aimed at mitigating the risk of HIV transmission. Prominent strategies for mitigating HIV transmission encompass the utilization of biomedical interventions, notably pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), as well as the facilitation of enhanced access to biomedical tools, such as condoms or sterile needles (Krishnaratne et al., 2016). Another crucial intervention includes behavioral and structural interventions. Since some behaviors lead to the spread of the virus, the change in those behaviors will be a progressive intervention. Some of these behaviors is engaging in safe sexual activities, among others.
Model
Health promotion and illness prevention campaigns often utilize a theoretical framework known as the Health Belief Model to provide guidance. This concept elucidates and predicts individuals’ prospective modifications in health-related conduct (Anuar et al., 2020). Since this model is commonly employed to understand health behaviors, it would be effective in preventing the spread of HIV among the target population.
References
Anuar, H., Shah, S. A., Gafor, H., Mahmood, M. I., & Ghazi, H. F. (2020). Usage of Health Belief Model (HBM) in health behavior: A systematic review. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 16(11), 2636-9346. http://medic.upm.edu.my/upload/dokumen/2021010809001826_2020_0366_.pdf
Krishnaratne, S., Hensen, B., Cordes, J., Enstone, J., & Hargreaves, J. R. (2016). Interventions to strengthen the HIV prevention cascade: a systematic review of reviews. The lancet HIV, 3(7), e307-e317. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(16)30038-8/fulltext
Sherafat-Kazemzadeh, R., Gaumer, G., Hariharan, D., Sombrio, A., & Nandakumar, A. (2021). Between a Rock and a Hard Place: How poverty and lack of agency affect HIV risk behaviors among married women in 25 African countries: A cross-sectional study. Journal of global health, 11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8564885/
Garnett, G. P. (2021). Reductions in HIV incidence are likely to increase the importance of key population programs for HIV control in sub‐Saharan Africa. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 24, e25727. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jia2.25727
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