University Healthcare Essay: SDH Impact on HIV/AIDS in South Africa

This essay examines the influence of the social determinants of health (SDH) on HIV/AIDS prevention, particularly within the context of South Africa. The author discusses the SDH framework, highlighting how factors like socioeconomic status, cultural norms, and societal structures contribute to health inequities and impact the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention programs. The essay analyzes the impact of these determinants, emphasizing the need for interventions that address structural issues, such as poverty, gender inequality, and access to healthcare. The author stresses the importance of expanding healthcare systems, providing comprehensive services, and addressing stigma to improve outcomes. The essay also identifies the limitations of the SDH framework, particularly the lack of a network model for integrated service provision. The conclusion reiterates the significance of addressing SDH to reduce the likelihood of HIV/AIDS and calls for governmental actions to tackle these determinants effectively. The author references several academic sources to support the analysis.

Running head: HEALTHCARE
Global health
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HEALTHCARE
Introduction- Social determinants of health (SDH) commonly refer to the conditions that
individuals are born, live, work, and age, and they comprise of a plethora of systems and forces
that are responsible for shaping and creating an impact on daily life conditions (Garg, Boynton-
Jarrett and Dworkin 2016). This essay will discuss the impact of SDH framework, in relation to
an article that focuses on structural AIDS/HIV prevention in South Africa.
Discussion- Analysis of the SDH framework has helped me in gaining a sound
understanding of the fact that most AIDS/HIV prevention programs that have been implemented
all across the world, specifically focus on averting the sexual transmission of pathogens, in order
to reduce incidence of the disease. Taking into consideration the fact that southern Africa has not
yet developed completely, the disproportionate burden of AIDS/HIV infection, within the lives
of the target population can be accredited to socially determined areas that are present within the
particular culture and location (Geter, Sutton and Hubbard McCree 2018). I also understood that
presence of cultural, structural and societal factors are largely responsible for the onset of health
inequity, which in turn create some negative impact on the ability of the inhabitants to
successfully navigate the screening and prevention process for AIDS/HIV.
On analysing the framework it was also understood that structural and social factors such
as, cultural policy and legal aspects, of the contemporary social environment might also support
the vulnerability and probability of Southern Africa residents of being at increased risk for
AIDS. These factors that comprise of geographic location, stigma associated with AIDS/HIV,
migratory behaviour for employment, and marital status either compromise ability or increase
individual risk of exposure to infection (Hatzenbuehler and Pachankis 2016).

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The major intervention that should be implemented for AIDS/HIV prevention should
focus on expanding and strengthening the health care system by creating provision for effective
health amenities that delivers safe, high quality and efficacious interventions to the target
population, regardless of their SDH. Such services should take into account the entire population,
whether outlined by geography or specific characteristics such as, occupation, migration, age or
nature of the disease (McKinney and Marconi 2016). It should also take into account the
discrimination and stigma that are made towards people with infection, and should particularly
focus on groups that demonstrate risky behaviour such as, prisoners, injecting drug users, and
sex workers. Creating provisions for safe water, hygiene, sanitation, and infection control, for all
people is necessary. It is also essential to implement good leadership and management that will
educate patients on the different risk factors such as, unprotected sexual intercourse, drug
injection, and man-to-man sexual intercourse (Ganguli, Clewell and Shillington 2016). Though
the framework has addressed several SDH that increase risk of a person to suffer from diseases,
it fails to elaborate on construction of a network model, based on integrated service provision at
the community and local level.
Conclusion- To conclude, SDH comprise of economic systems, social norms,
developmental strategies, political systems, and social policies. However, inadequate steps have
been taken by the government, with the intent of targeting the social determinants that increase
the likelihood of a person to suffer from AIDS/HIV such as, gender inequality, poor
socioeconomic background, population displacement, and migration.

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References
Ganguli, A., Clewell, J. and Shillington, A.C., 2016. The impact of patient support programs on
adherence, clinical, humanistic, and economic patient outcomes: a targeted systematic
review. Patient preference and adherence, 10, p.711.
Garg, A., Boynton-Jarrett, R. and Dworkin, P.H., 2016. Avoiding the unintended consequences
of screening for social determinants of health. Jama, 316(8), pp.813-814.
Geter, A., Sutton, M.Y. and Hubbard McCree, D., 2018. Social and structural determinants of
HIV treatment and care among black women living with HIV infection: a systematic review:
2005–2016. AIDS care, 30(4), pp.409-416.
Hatzenbuehler, M.L. and Pachankis, J.E., 2016. Stigma and minority stress as social
determinants of health among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth: research evidence
and clinical implications. Pediatric Clinics, 63(6), pp.985-997.
McKinney, M.M. and Marconi, K.M., 2016. Delivering HIV Services to Vulnerable Populations:
A Review of CARE Act—Funded Research. Public Health Reports.