Research Project: HIV/AIDS Risk Factors and Global Pandemic

This research project examines the risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS, including transmission through shared needles, unsafe sex, and mother-to-child transmission. It analyzes the global impact of the pandemic, highlighting the lack of awareness, ineffective practices in healthcare settings, and the high cost of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study aims to identify key risk factors, assess the spread of the disease, and recommend strategies for prevention and awareness, utilizing the Epidemic theory to measure potential transmission. The project includes a detailed literature review, research methodology, and a work plan, offering insights into the challenges and potential solutions for mitigating the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide.

Research Project BSC
Nursing

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of study....................................................................................................................2
Aim..............................................................................................................................................3
Research question........................................................................................................................3
Assumptions................................................................................................................................3
Purpose........................................................................................................................................3
Limitations...................................................................................................................................3
Delimitations................................................................................................................................3
Significance.................................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................4
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK...................................................................................................4
DEFINATION OF TERMS.............................................................................................................4
SUMMARY.....................................................................................................................................4
ORGANISATION OF STUDY.......................................................................................................5
WORK PLAN..................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
In present time, HIV/AIDS is a major disease which is spreading all over the world. It is
a sexually transmitted disease which spreads from one person to another by vaginal fluids,
infected blood or semen. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is (AIDS) is chronic disease
cause due to HIV. The Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is becoming the leading cause of
death. AIDS is identified as final stage of HIV infection which highly damages the immune
system of human being.
In report of WHO about 78 million people are infected from HIV and 35 million has died
due to its worldwide (Park and et.al., 2016). There is high rise in people getting infected from
HIV virus. Moreover, there still exists several beliefs and norms within society where people
follow traditional practices such as male circumcision. This practice is especially followed in
Islam.
In the report of UNAIDS, it has been found that in 2017 there were approx. 36.9 million
people who are suffering from HIV worldwide (Global statistics. 2018). Moreover, among 36.9
about 75% of people were aware of this disease while 25% were not able to get proper care. In
addition to it, in 2017 21.7 million people were getting accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART).
There has been rise in about 2.1 million since 2016. There are various factors due to which this
disease has become a global concern. It can be due to using of infected needles for piercing,
tattoo, etc.
The major reason due to which people are not able to get high quality and effective care
services is lack of pubic contribution and awareness regarding health care. Also, many people are
not able to afford or access (ART) therapy. Moreover, there are not enough drugs or cure
methods exists which can help in mitigating disease. spreading of HIV.
Also, it has been identified that most people who are suffering from HIV/AIDS belongs
to age group of 25-34 (Sacktor and et.al., 2016). Therefore, it has become a major reason why
people are suffering from HIV.
Background of study
It has been analysed that HIV/AIDS has become a pandemic disease. It has highly
affected population and social life of people in US (Fuller and et.al., 2016). The virus HIV
occurs due to certain factors or transmission of infectious disease from one person to another.
There are many factors due to which there is high risk of causing of HIV/AIDS ( What puts you
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at risk of HIV. 2019). There exist several risk factors due to which this disease spreads such as
unsafe sex. Here, a person suffering from HIV positive is reason due to which HIV spreads.
Also, sharing of needles in injecting drugs can lead to HIV. The needle contains blood strains of
one person which can infect blood vessels of another one. Moreover, HIV is spread by sharing
tattoo equipment without sterilising it. In this similar thing occurs where blood strains get
injected into another person. there is another risk factor due to which disease spread. During
pregnancy or delivery of child HIV spreads. A mother infected from it can give child virus
during birth. Furthermore, during breastfeeding similar situation occurs where a child gets
infected from HIV. In addition to it, reusing of needle for testing blood sample can make a
person infected. So, these all are the risk factors due to which HIV spreads. There is also lack of
awareness among people regarding these factors. So, it is necessary to generate awareness
among people about what are the prevention methods that can be utilised.
Another factor is reusing needles, syringes, etc. in hospitals and care centres. In this a
person blood chromosome enters into another. So, in this situation there is high chances of
getting infected from HIV. There exist several sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes,
chlamydia, syphilis, etc. through which HIV spreads. So, all these are the risk factors due to
which people are suffering from AIDS (Shiels and Engels, 2017).
HIV/AIDS does not affect health of an individual but also entire community and their
economic growth. This result in poor social life and growth and development of people.
Alongside it, the overall community is affected. There are several major problems as well which
are faced by developing countries such as poverty, food insecurity, etc. However, it has been
observed that ART therapy is very costly and is not affordable by people. Besides this, in spite of
being aware about prevention methods, staff in hospitals are not properly practicing it. They are
carelessly using shared needles in injecting drugs. Hence, it is also a major issue due to which
HIV/AIDS has become a pandemic disease.
World health organisation states that countries where HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly is
facing issues related to rise in population, poverty, etc. (Theall and et.al., 2016). In poor
countries like Africa, high number of people are suffering from HIV and more deaths are been
recorded. Therefore, it is essential to make people aware risk factors that can led to HIV/AIDS. It
will help in taking preventive methods before providing care services. In addition to it, people
will get more aware about factors due to which HIV/AIDS spreads.
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Aim
“To analyse the risk factors of HIV and AIDS: Progression of global pandemic".
Objectives
 To examine widespread occurrence of HIV at global level
 To assess the factors that lead to risk of HIV/AIDS
 To recommend how disease can be prevented by developing a clinical care program
Research question
 What are the risk factors of HIV\ AIDS?
 How awareness can be spread among people regarding protection from HIV\AIDS?
 How the risk factors can be mitigated by taking proper measures?
Assumptions
 Lack of awareness within people while accessing health care services.
 Ineffective practices followed by care workers in hospitals.
Purpose
This study is conducted to determine the key risk factors due to which HIV/AIDS
spreads. Also, it will be useful in analysing lack of ineffective practices followed by care
workers in hospitals. Moreover, it will help in generating awareness among people regarding risk
factors and how it leads to HIV.
Limitations
 There might be more resources required in conducting research.
 The scope of topic is very broad and therefore study will be time consuming.
Delimitations
 The sample taken was only 100 people.
 It has been to completed within short time.
Significance
This study will be help in finding out risk factors due to which HIV/AIDS spreads and
what prevention methods can be taken to reduce it. Moreover, it will support in making people
aware about different types of risk factors due to which the disease is spreading. Furthermore,
this study will show people about ways to get protected from it (Poteat and et.al., 2015). Also, it
will be useful in generating awareness among people that how they can prevent and control risk
of HIV from spreading.
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
It is a framework that enables in conducting research in systematic way. Also, it is a
method of gathering data in specific manner. In present study, the scholar will collect data
through secondary sources as it supports critical analysis of information available in Books,
Journals, Articles, etc. and through database on internet. For example, report of WHO, health
department, etc.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The study was guided by using Epidemic theory. It is used to measure the potential
transmission of disease. It is measured by secondary cases with susceptible population.
DEFINATION OF TERMS
HIV/AIDS – A chronic disease caused by HIV.
RISK – A situation which can led to danger or cause harm.
SUMMARY
It can be summarised that there are many reasons due to which HIV spreads. It includes
use of shared needles and syringes in piercing, by sharing tattoo equipment without sterilizing it.
Also, during pregnancy HIV can be transferred from mother to child. Moreover, during
breastfeeding disease is spread from one person to another. Another factor through which HIV is
spread is taking blood sample of HIV person through needle and exposing to another.
There has been high rise in ratio where adults of age 24- 35 are suffering from this
disease (Leader and et.al., 2016). Many people are not aware about what precautions can be
taken and how HIV/AIDS can be prevented. It is important to identify risk factors and generate
awareness among people regarding HIV virus.
Besides this, due to ineffective practices or lack of training among staff in hospitals
disease is spreading among people. Moreover,
ORGANISATION OF STUDY
Chapter one: It will give an overview about research topic that is analysis of risk factors of
HIV and AIDS. The chapter will comprise background, aim, objectives, significance of study.
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Chapter two: This chapter will give a brief description about topic and will be based on
secondary information which will be critically analyzed to outline risk factors of HIV and AIDS.
Chapter three: It will give outline of research methods which will be used in conducting study.
The methods included will be philosophy, design, along with sampling, data collection, etc.
Chapter four: Here, data analysis will be done on data gathered from different sources.
Chapter five: In this discussion and conclusion of overall research will be done.
WORK PLAN
Activity Date
Final proposal January 2019
Chapter 1 28 February 2019
Chapter 2 15 March 2019
Data collection completed 30 March 2019
Chapter 3 30 April 2019
Chapter 4 30 May 2019
Chapter 5 15 June 2019
Abstract completed 20 June 2019
Submitting draft 30 June 2019
Final submission 10 August 2019
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Fuller, C.M. and et.al., 2016. Factors associated with adolescent initiation of injection drug
use. Public health reports.
Leader, J.K. and et.al., 2016. Risk factors associated with quantitative evidence of lung
emphysema and fibrosis in an HIV-infected cohort. Journal of acquired immune deficiency
syndromes (1999). 71(4). p.420.
Naicker, N. and et.al., 2015. Risk factors for HIV acquisition in high risk women in a generalised
epidemic setting. AIDS and Behavior. 19(7). pp.1305-1316.
Park, L.S. and et.al., 2016. Prevalence of non-HIV cancer risk factors in persons living with
HIV/AIDS: a meta-analysis. AIDS (London, England). 30(2). p.273.
Poteat, T. and et.al., 2015. HIV risk and preventive interventions in transgender women sex
workers. The Lancet. 385(9964). pp.274-286.
Sacktor, N. and et.al., 2016. Prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in the
Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Neurology. 86(4). pp.334-340.
Shiels, M.S. and Engels, E.A., 2017. Evolving epidemiology of HIV-associated
malignancies. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS. 12(1). pp.6-11.
Theall, K.P. and et.al., 2016. Factors associated with positive HIV serostatus among women who
use drugs: continued evidence for expanding factors of influence. Public Health Reports.
Online
Global statistics. 2018. [online] Available through: <
https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/global-statistics >
What puts you at risk of HIV. 2019. [online] Available through: < https://www.webmd.com/hiv-
aids/hiv-risk-factors-are-you-risking-your-life>
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