Community Outbreak Analysis of HIV/AIDS: C228, WGU, Semester 1

This report provides an analysis of the HIV/AIDS community outbreak, examining the disease's history, epidemiological determinants, and risk factors. The report discusses the routes of transmission, the impact of the outbreak on communities, and reporting protocols. It also explores community education strategies and patient education strategies as essential interventions. The paper references the World Health Organization and HIV.gov, highlighting the global prevalence and historical context of the disease. The analysis covers the initial outbreak in the United States, its progression, and the importance of public health measures to prevent its spread. The report emphasizes the need for effective interventions by healthcare industries, global authorities, and governments to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

Running head: COMMUNITY OUTBREAK
Analysis of Community Outbreak of HIV/AIDS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

COMMUNITY OUTBREAK
Introduction
The paper will discuss about the communicable disease of HIV/AIDS (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). According to World
Health Organization Data (2018), the disease has affected over 37.9 million people and is
spread globally with few exceptions such as Denmark. According to HIV.gov (2016), the first
outbreak was discovered in Los Angeles on 1981 with first official reporting published by
Center for Disease Control in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In the United States
of America, group of gay men were reported with aggressive cancer named Kaposi’s
Sarcoma in California and New York. According to HIV.gov (2016), at least one case of
HIV/AIDS in every region of the world was reported by the year 1985.
Epidemiological Determinants & Risk Factors
The epidemic of HIV/AIDS has shifted over the past three decades and low and
middle-income countries are the most affected ones presently. For the initial cases reported in
America in the year 1981, the symptoms were reported in people who injected drugs and gay
men, making these two factors the first observed epidemiological determinants of HIV/AIDS.
There are several risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS. The primary risk factor that
increases the risk of incidence of this communicable disease is unprotected sex. For the HIV
outbreak in America in the 1980s, the prime risk factor reported was unprotected sex between
homosexual couples (HIV.gov, 2016). Other risk factors include having sexually transmitted
infections such as herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis and chlamydia. Some other
behavioral risk factors among heterosexuals that has been found out includes having number
of sexual partners, lack of male circumcision, commercial sex and anal intercourse.
Route of Transmission
The disease can be transmitted through unprotected sex with affected individual. Any
person that comes in direct contact of some of the bodily fluids (infected by virus load), can

COMMUNITY OUTBREAK
get infected by human immunodeficiency virus. These body fluids include breast milk,
vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, semen, pre-seminal fluid and blood. For the transmission to occur
the infected fluid has to get into the blood stream of a HIV-negative person. Transmission can
also occur through the use of infected syringes or needles.
Impact at Community
The spread of HIV/AIDS has very negative influence with complications and impact
on the community. HIV/AIDS epidemic has a negative impact on families as it influences
financial breakdown and leading to poverty. Along with intensification of poverty, the
families or individual suffering from HIV/AIDS face socio-economic problems.
These socio-economic problems can alter the affected individual’s mental, social,
physical, emotional and psychosocial well-being. Moreover, outbreak of this communicable
disease leads to increased mortality rates which affects the growth rate of the population.
Reporting Protocol
According to CDC.gov (2019), all district level health care providers are required to
report new cases of HIV/AIDS to the state health departments. Currently, 50 states of the
United States of America are required to follow this reporting procedure. Ten states of the
USA are required to report directly the new cases before legislatures, voting constituencies
and governors.
Strategies
Community education strategies are essential intervention that is required to improve
the behavioral change communication. At community level, the people are need to be made
more aware of the disease condition and outreach peer education (Kwong, 2018).
In addition to this, patient education strategies will include educating the patient for
higher treatment and medication adherence to effectively address the HIV positive state and
prevent the incidence of AIDS.

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Conclusion
HIV/AIDS is one of the major global concern and requires effective intervention by
the health care industry along with global authorities and governments to prevent the spread
of this communicable disease and reduce its prevalence rate.

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References
Cdc.gov. (2019). HIV Infection Reporting -- United States Retrieved 15 January 2020, from
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001425.htm
HIV.gov. (2016). A Timeline of HIV and AIDS Retrieved 15 January 2020, from
https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/history/hiv-and-aids-timeline
Kwong, J. (2018). Global Reach. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 29(5),
624-625.
World Health Organization. (2018). Data and statistics. World Health Organization.
Retrieved 15 January 2020, from https://www.who.int/hiv/data/en/