HIV/AIDS Prevention Scenario and Reflection
I feel it is unfortunate that HIV/AIDS is associated with poverty. For instance there are many cases of HIV/AIDS in Africa, a continent that is concerned with less developments. As Dr. Meadow highlighted, I feel that education itself is not enough to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, it needs more. In 2018, the World Health Organization reported that Africa was the leading continent in terms of HIV infections with estimated cases of 25.7 million, and with these statistics, stringent and effective measure need to be put in place (Singh et al. 2018). I feel that some measure like increased supply, accessibility and affordability of condoms would ease combat the increasing spread of HIV. I feel that African countries have made the testing for HIV/AIDS optional, but as Dr. Williams narrated, testing for HIV should be made mandatory. Mandatory testing would ensure that many people are tested and the disease is identified in its early stages.
In addition, I feel that mandatory testing would ensure that people know their status, those who found to be infected with the disease would stop the spread of the disease. Without mandatory testing, it would be in vain combating the spread of HIV/AIDS. The distribution of condoms to prevent the spread of the disease in Africa has not been effective since some of the organizations that distribute the condoms have conflicting interests due to some religious beliefs. Hence the use of condom is not a reliable measure to combat the spread of HIV in Africa. People who fail to undergo HIV testing are at high chances of spreading the disease. HIV/AIDS is becoming a health crisis because according to the World Health Organization, there were around 2.3 million people infected with the disease worldwide, and this translates to around 6,300 infections per day (Lee, Heilig & White, 2012). I feel that the above statistics are worrying and much is needed to be done to combat the spread of HIV.
According to me, response A is partly ethical because it mentions of abstinence and awareness campaigns. Creation of awareness about abstaining from sex is one of the ways that could reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. However, not everyone will heed to the call of abstaining from sex, due to personal issues or community beliefs. Therefore it would not fully counter the spread of the disease. In addition, response A does not recognize personal liberties and some individuals believe that sex is among the basic needs, and encouraging them to abstain would be unethical to them. I am convinced that response B is the most ethical because it talks of addressing the problems facing the condoms supply chain to ensure that the condoms reach the majority of the intended people to ensure maximum protection. In addition, response A outlines the need to for HIV education, availability of condoms and voluntary testing as the leading ways to combat the increasing spread of HIV/AIDS (Karim, Baxter & Birx, 2017). Most of the increased cases of HIV infection are due to lack of awareness, unavailability of condoms and optional testing.
Besides, response B talks of the need to guarantee privacy like the use of codes instead of individual names to identify patients, thereby making it the most ethical choice. In regards to choice C, it is also ethical since it encourages people to rally behind the campaign for using condoms as protection measures. HIV does not discriminate between religious and non-religious people, therefore all people should practice the use of condoms to combat the spread of HIV (Costa et al. 2017). Concerning response D, it is not ethical because it advocates for mandatory testing which might be against people’s privacy. Those confirmed with the disease may face stigmatization from their family members and friends, and this may also hinder the need to seek treatment. In light of the HIV prevention scenario, I am convinced that choice B is the most ethical since HIV education, voluntary testing and the use of condoms have the highest chances of minimizing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
References
Lee, L. M., Heilig, C. M., & White, A. (2012). Ethical justification for conducting public health surveillance without patient consent. American Journal of Public Health, 102(1), 38-44.
Costa, A. C. M. A. C., de Castro Bezerra, K., do Nascimento Sousa, D. M., de Freitas Rocha, J., & Oriá, M. O. B. (2017). Development and validation of a booklet for prevention of vertical HIV transmission. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem, 30(2), 181.
Karim, Q. A., Baxter, C., & Birx, D. (2017). Prevention of HIV in adolescent girls and young women: key to an AIDS-free generation. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 75, S17-S26.
Singh, S., Song, R., Johnson, A. S., McCray, E., & Hall, H. I. (2018). HIV incidence, prevalence, and undiagnosed infections in US men who have sex with men. Annals of internal medicine, 168(10), 685-694.