HIV/AIDS in Australia and Thailand Research 2022

HIV/AIDS in Australia and Thailand
Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus(AIDS)is caused due to Human Immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) infection in individuals. In general the infection is spread through sexual contact,
blood get infected along with fluids include semen and vaginal organ. The article will focus
on spread of HIV infection among people through sexual contact in the countries Thailand
and Australia. The vulnerability of HIV patients is explained of both countries and also focus
on social determinants like gender and health care system associated with HIV infection
(Edwards & Collins, 2014). A comparison between two countries with regard to social
determinants were discussed by focusing on influence of health care system and gender on
sex workers infected with HIV infection.
In 2018,the statistics indicate close to 30,000 people are infected with HIV in Australia and
out of this close to 85% were diagnosed with HIV infection in 2017.Currently around 90%
are provided treatment and load of virus is not able to get detected for nearly 80% of the
population. Research studies indicated people infected with HIV due to sexual contact
between opposite sex , same sex and due to usage of drugs (Teeraananchai et.al,2019).
In Asian countries like Thailand the prevalence of HIV infection is nearly 10% of total
population and closely 5 lakh people are infected with HIV. Each year close to 7000 cases
were reported with HIV infection and nearly 20,000 people die every year. Treatment
procedures were provided for 75% of adults and 80% of children using antiretroviral therapy.
The rate of transmission is very less around 2% mainly because of avoiding transmission of
infections from mother to child. By the end of 2030,Thailand is planning to completely end
the spread of AIDS in the country (Sudjaritruk et.al,2019).
Social determinants
Gender
Gender and Health care system are considered as important social determinants for spread of
HIV infection across countries Australia and Thailand. Gender influence is one of the
important determinant for the cause of outbreak of infection in Australia. The influence of
cultural, socio-economic conditions present in the society showed gender differences and
there is inequality issue for outbreak of HIV in the country. Some of the harmful practices
like violence, unequal dynamics of laws and power and detrimental practices that are
traditionally followed by both sexes has led to limit the choices of women and also access to
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opportunities ,services ,employment and education is very limited. Due to this reason the
women are not provided with equal opportunities as men and they are forced to do sexual
activities without proper knowledge and protection thus resulting spreading the HIV infection
to a greater extent in Australia and especially the incidence rate is high in Aboriginal
population (Chemnasiri et.al,2019). The indigenous population present in Australia are the most
affected because of gender inequality because of dominance of male over females and are
most vulnerable to HIV infection compared to other areas in Australia.
In Asian countries like Thailand it is found that many young ladies and aged women are
involved in sexual relationship and infected with HIV due to lack of awareness and also due
to dominance of men that resulted in women getting less access to education and also with
sex related health services. There are disparities and existence of violence between partners
and this hinders the ability of women to protect themselves by using condoms against HIV
infection. Due to this reason women are not able to get access to education and sexual related
health services that includes testing and treatment procedures of HIV infection. Due to
increase in number of sex workers in recent years many of them are not educated or aware of
consequences of HIV infection and are forced by their authorities to get involved in sexual
contacts with unknown people including both the sexes (Thienkrua et.al,2016). The dominance
of violence between two sexes is main reason for spread of HIV infection and it is most
commonly observed in adolescents and teenage women.
In both countries like Thailand and Australia, women are more affected with HIV infection
because of inequality issue with respect to gender and it is observed in specific region like
Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander in Australia and whereas in Thailand it is present all over
the country among both sexes.
Health care system
Health care system in Australia is influenced by several options and it depends on socio-
economic conditions of an individual. Aboriginal population living in Australia is most
affected due to HIV infection because of poor socio-economic conditions and nearly 40%
people are affected with chronic health related diseases such as AIDS. This is mainly
associated with imbalances in mental and physical health among people and also due to lack
of routine work for people living in these areas (Boettiger et.al,2016). Due to increase in
unemployment in these areas large number of people depends on others for living and their
ability to spend expenditure for medical and health related issues is very low. It is critical to
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consider the low and high socio-economic groups present in the country and possible
recommendations should be implemented to further spread and prevention of HIV infection.
Both males and females are more susceptible to HIV infection in Thailand due to poor health
care system that is not supportive to poor workers and also for migrant population living in
Thailand. The infection is more observed in sex workers and transgender population mainly
due to unawareness of AIDS disease and also lack of health prevention strategies by local
government. The category which is most affected due to HIV infection is having sex with
same gender especially men with other men(MSM) and young female sex workers because of
lack of information regarding health related services. In recent years prevalence is increased
but there is decline with outbreak of disease. Discrimination and stigma are other
determinants contributing to health care considered as barriers that are recurring and
preventing people from HIV testing procedures (Kiertiburanakul et.al,2017). The reasons for not
getting tested is mainly influence of several factors like mental health issues and ethnic
factors of an individual. In 2017,reports suggest that only 35% of the men were able to have
the HIV test and it is considerably low in comparison with any other population. For this
reason implementation of education and health awareness related programmes regarding HIV
infection prevention is required in order to reach all communities and should able to provide
treatment to all people by distributing self-testing kits (Kent et.al,2010).
Australia health care system is more advanced in comparison with Thailand mainly because
of availability of resources to prevent spread of HIV Infection. There are only small
communities in Australia getting affected with HIV and it can be prevented by
implementation of education programmes that help in creating awareness among people and
are involved in testing procedures for further spread of disease to new generation. In Thailand
support from local bodies and from government initiated a programme named AIDS
Healthcare foundation that is aimed to eradicate HIV by the end of 2030 by providing free
access to public and consider themselves for testing procedures (Bourne et.al,2010). Sexual
education programmes are introduced to create awareness in people in both countries but it
has to reach to younger generation by introducing in curriculum and priority should be
towards prevention programmes. Thailand has successfully prevented the transmission rate
from mother to child in recent years thus prevent the spread of infection into children.
Recommendations:
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HIV infection is wide spread in both countries in Thailand and Australia because of lack of
educational awareness and treatment programmes offered to all people present in different
areas of the country (Stuart et.al,2015). Thailand initiated treatment by implementing
antiretroviral therapy that is made available to all people infected with HIV. The
implementation of education based programmes that is comprised of counselling and testing
procedures of HIV infection will help to identify and prevent the spread of infection in both
countries (Bunupuradah et.al,2012). Some of the possible recommendations include educate
people to use condoms and its benefits in eradicating HIV and educational institution should
teach about HIV and its influence on life. Sex education is critical factor to reduce the spread
of HIV specifically targeting young generation including men and women. Transmission of
child from mother should be prevented and reduce or eradicate use of drugs that promote
HIV infection by introducing sex education (Bavinton et.al,2014). Retention rate can be
improved further by using antiretroviral therapy and it should be offered all individuals with
HIV and it should covered by insurance companies associated with health care system.
Conclusion
HIV and AIDS infection is highly prevalent in Thailand and Australia targeting specific
communities in both countries for example Aboriginal population in Australia were most
affected with HIV infection and it is seen among sex workers in both countries. The reasons
mainly due to gender inequity and lack of proper health care programmes that outreach to the
public and made aware of disease. The incidence rate is relatively high in Thailand in
comparison with Australia and it is only found in isolated areas in Australia and whereas in
Thailand the disease prevention strategies were employed by government with support from
local and international bodies and are aiming to completely prevent the spread of infection by
the end of 2030.In Australia education based programmes that provides way to practice good
health habits and brings changes in life style of an individual were mainly targeted on HIV
infected group to prevent the infection. Both countries implemented programmes to prevent
and it should continue to minimize the discrimination, stigma, gender inequality among
people and should implement new approaches integrated with health care system.
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