Community Health & Nursing: Analyzing HIV/AIDS Impact on Population

This report discusses the epidemic outbreak of HIV/AIDS and its present and potential impact on human society internationally. It describes HIV/AIDS, its epidemiological determinants, and risk factors, including behavioral aspects like unprotected intercourse and transmission routes through specific body fluids. The report analyzes the potential impact on the community at a system level, highlighting effects on healthcare, governance, and business operations, using New York as an example. It outlines an effective reporting protocol based on the National Outbreak Reporting System Guideline (NORSG), emphasizing the role of healthcare facilities and community involvement. Recommended prevention strategies include healthcare system audits, patient education, and community awareness programs, aiming to limit HIV transmission within vulnerable populations. The report concludes that raising awareness is essential for preventing HIV/AIDS outbreaks and limiting transmission.

Running head: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND POPULATION-FOCUSED NURSING
Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Table of Content
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Description of the Outbreak.......................................................................................................2
Epidemiological determinants and risk factors..........................................................................2
Route of transmission.................................................................................................................3
Potential impact on community at a systems level....................................................................3
Effective reporting protocol.......................................................................................................4
Recommended prevention strategies..........................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to discuss about the epidemic outbreak of HIV virus and
the present and potential impact on human society internationally. For this in the following
section the description of the HIV/AIDS has been discussed along with epidemiological
determinants and risk factors. After that the route or transmission has been analyzed followed
by potential impact on community at system level. The effective reporting protocol along
with recommendations for prevention strategies have been discussed.
Description of the Outbreak
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS is a syndrome caused by a virus
called human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. As per the report of World Health
Organization on Adult HIV Prevalence in 2018, currently the major involved countries are
South Africa, Ukraine, Thailand, Guyana, the countries in southern Africa continent, counties
of south eastern Asia, other countries of South America continent and Australia. The first
outbreak of AIDS is discovered in April 24, 1980, when Ken Horne a resident of San
Francisco reported to the Centre of Disease control (Sabin & Lundgren, 2013). Before 1920
the HIV was only reported in Congo. Within 1980s the disease spread across five major
continents namely North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia. From 1990s
the disease also started to be spread in south eastern Asian countries (Vuilleumier &
Bonhoeffer, (2015).
Epidemiological determinants and risk factors
Rather than epidemiological determinants HIV/AIDS is associated with behavioral
risk factors. The risk factors HIV transmission among heterosexual population include
number of sex partners, frequency of unprotected intercourse, commercial sex, a history of or
concurrent infection with an STD, lack of male circumcision, and anal intercourse (who.int.,

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2018). Considering the fact that transmission through homosexual activities is rare,
homosexual activities in male can cause male to male transmission of HIV. Anal-receptive
intercourse is the primary risk factor for homosexual transmission of HIV. Within
transgender population the risk of HIV is also high because the MSM (men who have sex
with men) behavior.
Route of transmission
HIV is a non-communicable disease therefore it is neither airborne not waterborne nor
other vector-borne. The transmission can only possible through some specific body fluids
such as Blood, Semen, Pre-cum, Rectal fluids, Vaginal fluids and breast milk (Reif et al.,
2014). Transmission through blood can occur through using needles, syringes or other
injection equipment that has been used for an HIV infected person. Blood transmission from
an HIV infected person can cause transmission of HIV. Being stuck with a needle or sharp
object that is exposed to HIV-positive blood allow blood based transmission of HIV. Mother
to child transmission can be possible during breastfeeding through breast milk when the
mother is infected by HIV. As discussed earlier, the other route of transmissions such as
Semen, Pre-cum and Vaginal fluids, rectal fluids is possible for unprotected vaginal and anal
intercourse. HIV is not transmitted through saliva, urine, feces, vomit, sweat, animals,
mosquito, bugs and other vectors (McInnes & Rushton, 2013).
Potential impact on community at a systems level
To analyze the potential impact on community of HIV/AIDS, the discussion of
symptoms of HIV infection is essential. HIV is a virus that destroys the immune system of
human body, however, AIDS does not have any particular symptom associated with the
infection. As the result of destroyed immune system the symptoms of AIDS are high fevers,
rashes, breathing problem, persistent coughing, sever weight loss, white spots in mouth,

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diarrhea, genital sores, pneumonia, physical weakness, occurrence of various infectious
diseases. HIV is a lifelong infection. Depending on the stage of HIV infection a person can
become unable to live a painless healthy life or can become completely impaired
(grants.nih.gov., 2019). HIV/AIDS can change a person’s physical and mental status
significantly while making the person unable to execute their regular routine. Due to partial
or complete impairment a person can become completely unable to continue his/her job,
education, social participation and others.
I live in New York. As a result of this outbreak, the system level of my community
will be effected highly that will include the healthcare system, governing system, business
operations and others. Due to outbreak all the local healthcare facilities of New York would
be filled with HIV infected patients. As a result the healthcare organizations would be unable
to deliver healthcare services to the population. Apart from the Healthcare system, the other
operations would be suffering from major human resource crisis, because adult population
would be the most vulnerable population in HIV/AIDS outbreak. Due to lack of Human
Resource participation the business structure of every level from medical supplies to
groceries, lifestyle and industrial equipment would lose their functionality (grants.nih.gov.,
2019). The industrial system and the production of raw materials would be also effected due
to lack of human resource. With lack of business operations that are involved in
communication system and law enforcement the local governing system would be also
impaired. The fear of epidemic outbreak would create a chaotic situation in entire society of
New York.
Effective reporting protocol
The outbreak reporting protocol is a systematic operation that allows to inform the
governing system from local to national level regarding an epidemic outbreak when it is in its

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initial level in order to prevent the larger epidemic outcomes. For my community the
structure of outbreak reporting protocol should be based on the National Outbreak Reporting
System Guideline or NORSG (grants.nih.gov., 2019). As per the guideline the major
responsibility of reporting lies on the healthcare facilities or organizations. Hence, for my
area, the responsibility of the healthcare organization will be to assess the current HIV
infected patient inflow level with other information and to report to the ministry of
healthcare. The assessment and documentation system should be initiated as soon as the
number of inbound HIV infected patient reaches a particular threshold. Not only the
healthcare organization, but also the local people should pro-actively communicate with the
local governing body if multiple HIV infected people are identified in the locality. The
healthcare service provider should also report the partners of newly diagnosed HIV cases
through utilizing their healthcare provider report form. After the detecting the initiation of the
outbreak, the local healthcare centers should report the local population by using various
media regarding the prevention methods of HIV transmission.
Recommended prevention strategies
From the above discussion it can be said that making local population aware of the
HIV infection and AIDS is very essential to prevent the HIV/AIDS outbreak. The strategies
will be also helpful after the initial outbreak of HIV/AIDS to limit the rate of horizontal
transmission within a vulnerable population. The recommended strategies are presented
below.
Through Healthcare System Audit, the healthcare organization can make their system
safe from clinical malpractices such as using used needles and syringes, using medical
equipment that is exposed to the Blood, Semen, Pre-cum, Rectal fluids, Vaginal fluids and
breast milk of a HIV patient (Stover et al., 2016). Through monitoring and keeping care

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providing standards, the healthcare organizations of New York can prevent hospital acquired
HIV infection and HIV transmission.
Patient Education will be another effective strategy in this case where the healthcare staffs
such as nurses, midwifes even medical practitioners can be actively involved in educating
patients regarding how to avoid HIV transmission and how to lead a lifestyle that can lead to
wellness. Educating regarding precautionary measures during sexual activity will be very
essential for the potential and identified patient of HIV infection.
Community awareness will help to prevent the HIV to be spread from grassroots
level. Local government, local NGO organizations, healthcare facilities should arrange health
promotional activities for the local people. The awareness program should incorporate the
awareness regarding protected sexual intercourse and HIV infection identification and
reporting system at very early stage. The people should be also aware of the real HIV
transmission ways and misunderstandings about HIV transmission. The awareness promotion
process should use digital media, social media, satellite media and print media.
Conclusion
From the above discussion it can be said that AIDS is a syndrome caused by a virus
called HIV. It has been also found that currently the population of countries in southern
Africa continent, counties of south eastern Asia, countries of South America continent and
Australia are infected moderate to high level by HIV virus. The transmission of HIV virus
can be possible through some specific body fluids such as Blood, Semen, Pre-cum, Rectal
fluids, Vaginal fluids and breast milk. After being seriously infected by HIV a person can
become completely unable to continue his/her job, education, social participation and others.
Therefore, it can be said that making local population aware of the HIV infection and AIDS

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is very essential to prevent the HIV/AIDS outbreak and even to limit the rate of horizontal
transmission within a vulnerable population after the initial outbreak.

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References
grants.nih.gov. (2019). NIH Guide: SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL IMPACT OF
HIV/AIDS. Retrieved 7 February 2020, from https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-
files/PA-03-027.html
McInnes, C., & Rushton, S. (2013). HIV/AIDS and securitization theory. European Journal
of International Relations, 19(1), 115-138.
Reif, S. S., Whetten, K., Wilson, E. R., McAllaster, C., Pence, B. W., Legrand, S., & Gong,
W. (2014). HIV/AIDS in the Southern USA: a disproportionate epidemic. AIDS
care, 26(3), 351-359.
Sabin, C. A., & Lundgren, J. D. (2013). The natural history of HIV infection. Current
Opinion in HIV and AIDS, 8(4), 311.
Stover, J., Bollinger, L., Izazola, J. A., Loures, L., DeLay, P., Ghys, P. D., & Fast Track
modeling working Group. (2016). What is required to end the AIDS epidemic as a
public health threat by 2030? The cost and impact of the fast-track approach. PloS
one, 11(5).
Vuilleumier, S., & Bonhoeffer, S. (2015). Contribution of recombination to the evolutionary
history of HIV. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS, 10(2), 84-89.
who.int. (2018). The Determinants of the HIV/AIDS Epidemics in Eastern Europe. Retrieved
7 February 2020, from https://www.who.int/hiv/strategic/en/eurmap98.pdf