Comprehensive Essay on HIV Awareness and Management in Public Health

This essay delves into the critical aspects of HIV awareness and management, examining the virus's global distribution and determinants, with a particular focus on public health strategies. It explores the principles of health promotion and primary care, highlighting the crucial role of midwives in HIV prevention and management, including universal HIV testing, counselling, and nutritional information. The essay also investigates the impact of the HIV epidemic across social, political, and economic spheres. It evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of health definitions, the importance of health outcomes, and the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. The essay emphasizes the need for increased awareness, early diagnosis, and comprehensive management strategies to combat the ongoing HIV pandemic, particularly in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, while also acknowledging the progress made in reducing the spread of the virus through various interventions.

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HIV AWARENESS AND MANAGEMENT
By
Student’s name
Professor’s name
University name
City, state
Date

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Introduction
HIV is an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is the virus that causes Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) still reigns as the
world significant public health issue. According to the world health organization, the number of
people who have died from HIV/AIDS is more than 30 million. The year 2018 saw 770,000
people succumb to the illness around the world (Trondillo, 2016). This epidemic has affected the
African region more than anywhere else in the world. More than twenty-six million people in
the African continent are infected with HIV. That is almost two-thirds of the total number of
people with HIV globally. HIV doesn’t have treatment and many countries have come up with
HIV awareness campaigns and management method to contain the rapid spread of the epidemic.
To contain the spread and effects of HIV, there has been the use of various management
procedures such as the use of antiretroviral therapy. This treatment has been successful method
around the world (Friedrich, 2017). The world has been able to reduce the spread of HIV, but its
effect still reigns. However, this method is not to cure, but the main aim is to manage the virus
and prolong the lives of affected people. If a person is not treated, the situation escalates to a
more complicated condition called HIV. This stage makes the body too weak to fight diseases. If
the situation remains untreated, the overall life expectancy cannot exceed five years. (Sekhon &
Minhas, 2016). This Assignment focuses on the determinant and distribution of HIV around the
globe. Additionally, the assignment will narrow its aim into the principles of health promotion
and primary care. Besides, the task will look at the role of midwives when dealing with HIV
situation and also the impact of epidemics around the world in all aspect of life that is a social,
political and economic impact.
The rationale for HIV Awareness and Management

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The study for public health has been the core reason to further look at this topic. The way the
society and the personnel organize themselves to try and control the spread of HIV in all aspect
of health (Tubbing, Harting & Stronks, 2015). In the United Kingdom (UK), the spread of HIV is
minimal, with nearly 101,000 people living with it (The Lancet HIV, 2014). However, with the
small number in place, there still cases of late diagnosis which make people live with HIV
without knowing (Sekhon & Minhas, 2016). Besides, there has been minimum awareness efforts
here in the UK, where only a small fraction of the population knows the manner in which the
disease is transmitted. Despite this, HIV still reigns among gay people and bisexual men. The
year 2017, saw more than 400 deaths which was related to HIV (The Global HIV/AIDS
Epidemic, 2019). The research done and analysis conducted has estimated that more than 230 of
the 400 death would have been saved if the diagnosis was made earlier. This leaves the question
if HIV awareness is done right and if there are ways to continue managing the spread (Trondillo,
2016). This has created an urge in me to understand the reason behind this trend not only in the
UK but the whole world. As I was planning to tackle this topic, some questions kept on popping
into my mind. If nations are maximally trying to fight diseases through awareness and various
management steps, why is HIV still a global problem? Are mechanism put in place working or
people have become ignorant of the fact that the disease still exists?
If the focus is shifted to the other places around the globe, the obvious answer would be that
awareness is little. Many people are afraid to be tested, including couples who end up risking
their lives as well as that of their children (Bona Chitah, 2016). In less developed countries
people are mostly unaware of their HIV status. This explains the reasons why HIV pandemic
reigns in countries like Africa (Martin, 2018). Although various mitigation and management on
HIV have been made, still HIV posts a significant threat to people and their families. The

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National Aid Trust in the UK has been continuously mobilizing people against HIV and creating
awareness to ensure people who are affected are treated fairly with compassion and
understanding (Hörbst & Wolf, 2014). Knowledge of HIV has been declining for a long time,
people are still stigmatized, and how HIV is transmitted to a person remains unclear to some
(Eremie & Margaret, 2016).
Relationship with health outcomes
Health outcomes refer to the process of understanding how well an individual respond to the
treatment accrued to him or her. HIV awareness and management are used to understand better
the efficiency of antiretroviral (ARVs) and other mechanisms. In measuring the HIV health
outcome using HIV awareness and control, the consideration will be on the impact of the
treatment on the person after a certain period (Tubbing, Harting & Stronks, 2015). Although HIV
awareness doesn't provide medicine, it aims at sensitizing people about transmission, how to live
a healthy life, to use protective methods, and also the various way someone can do to avoid
getting HIV (The Lancet HIV, 2014). HIV awareness and management consider discharging
medicines which don't pose a danger or adverse side effect on the patient. The aim is to
positively impact on people so that they can live normally like other people who are HIV
negative (Brown, Gill & Delpech, 2013). HIV awareness look into whether the disease
management is getting better or worse, the patient satisfaction and the cost of medication
On disease management, it is right to say that HIV has been contained in many countries. HIV
epidemiology recently has reduced due to proper awareness and management methods that aim
at reducing the spread and the effect of the virus (Eremie & Margaret, 2016). Epidemiology
refers to how determinant of health-related states are distributed and the application of the study
to control the diseases and other health issues (Shah, Dhabe & Dey, 2015). HIV epidemiology

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and distribution has been particularly high in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 66% of cases
of HIV. In South Asia and Southern East Asia 12% of the total population are affected by HIV
(Trondillo, 2016). Since the day AIDS was recognized, it has robbed more than 30 million lives.
Although mechanism is being put in place which has seen the number reduce, it still remains a
problem to health outcomes (Shah, Dhabe & Dey, 2015).
Health and health promotion
Health refers to the state of the body, physical and mentally and doesn’t necessarily mean a
person doesn't have the disease. Health is shaped by various constant factors that affect the well
being of an individual. For example, the environment in which a person is raised, relationships
and psychological pressure one is subjected to. It can also mean the ability of a person to adapt
and control critical situations. Definitely the meaning of health significantly differs from one
human to another. This is because health is an individual responsibility and determinants differs
and hence, health in one person may be different in another person. Health is a resource for a
person. (Elsevier, 2017) It is a valuable asset in which, in its absence can affect a person socially
and economically (Pender, Mary Ann Parsons & Murdaugh, 2019). Generally, the concept of
health revolves around having good health. Good health, therefore, means that an individual,
physical, mental, emotional state is well. Some things bring general good health to a person. A
place where a person lives or the surrounding, a person genetic, education level, relationship and
the level of income.
On the other hand, health promotion refers to means or mechanism put in place to enable
individuals to control and improve their health. In this case, the combination of other social
structures that can help someone have control and manage HIV (Slavin, 2016). Health promotion
means there exists a balanced environment where a person is capable of maintaining or

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improving his or her health for example, employment (Sparks, 2013). Being employed helps a
person in getting the income and improve or maintain his or her health. Health promotion aims at
giving an individual mandate to be the custodian of their health. On October 2008 the Royal
Society for Public Health was formed in the UK. This body act as advocates for health
promotion. As the name suggests, health promotion aims at promoting, to educate to empower
individual live a healthy life (Sparks, 2013). Health promotion is, therefore, an aspect of public
health and various organizations and government agency and society to raise awareness on HIV
and call for needed change to improve health
Strength and Weakness of Definition
As explained the strength of the definition of health above is that an individual effort is essential
and not an everyday factor. Therefore, by understanding that each person has a role to play will
make them uphold the highest standard of health. A healthy person at large creates a healthy
society which eventually form a healthy nation. Additionally, various organization and
institution understand that promotion of health is not an individual task, but a collective one in
which awareness should be created. The weakness of the definition means that there is no overall
definition of health. Anybody can define what health means. This means that government
agencies, institutions and organization can overlook the promotion of health depending on how
people perceive health. That the reason why countries like Africa has been left behind in
enhancing and promoting health. The case of Ebola speaks volume.
Health promotion role of the midwife
Midwifery has been an evolving role in nursing. Nurses have been active in supporting people
who have been affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) since the day HIV was

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discovered (Sparks, 2013). The most significant role has been in prevention of HIV infection
from the mother to the child. They are the primary healthcare who are available for pregnant
women. Not only do midwife asset during birth but also in the postpartum period (Rogala, Mazur
& Maślińska, 2015). They have assisted millions of the first mother in preparation for
parenthood. What has been their role in the promotion of health concerning HIV?
Universal HIV testing
This has been a significant step in managing the spread of HIV from the mother to the child.
Midwives have assisted numerous women in knowing their HIV status (Mody et al. 2016). It
should be noted that knowing the status for pregnant women is the first step in getting
appropriate care and treatment (Wulandari et al., 2019). However, in the sub-Saharan region,
more than 70% of the population don’t know their HIV status. This makes it difficult for
midwives in their operation to ensure the virus hasn’t been transmitted from m the mother to the
child. A mother who knows her HIV status will be able to protect her family and the life of her
child. This has been an ultimate role of midwives in HIV management
Counselling (HIV awareness)
They have been a significant pillar in ensuring women get HIV awareness. Not only do they
provide valuable information on prenatal care, hygiene and nutrition, but they have also
counselled many pregnant women in living an HIV free life (Rogala, Mazur & Maślińska, 2015).
With the increased spreading of the virus, incidences of meeting a positive mother are very high.
Therefore, contemporary issues like counselling are necessary to create awareness and to
enhance HIV management (Rink, FourStar & Anastario, 2015). Women found having the virus
are advised on a better method to observe to prevent spreading the virus to other people and their

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children (Larsson et al., 2019). These mechanisms involve no breastfeeding, to use protection
and to continue using ARVs.
Nutritional information
Like discussed, the goal of health outcome is to access if the care given is helping, the patients or
not. In doing so, midwives ensure HIV awareness and management by guiding mothers on better
nutrition’s to use when they have been diagnosed with HIV. For women who are HIV negative,
they are supposed to breastfeed their children for six to 24 months to enhance growth and
development. (The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2019) In an instance, a mother is HIV positive,
and only exclusive breastfeeding is supported where replacement feeding is not available. If
replacement feeding is convenient, midwives greatly discourage the use of breastfeeding method
to women who have been affected with HIV (Rink, FourStar & Anastario, 2015). This has
helped in creating awareness and also at the same time reduces the spread of HIV
Education
Midwives have integrated knowledge with HIV prevention and care to come up with prevention
strategies. They have educated women and their family about risk behaviours that may lead to a
person being infected with HIV. They have trained women on better ways to protect their
families from HIV pandemic (Marzalik et al., 2018). Education given by midwives is
incorporated with counselling to prevent trauma and stigmatization of the people living with
HIV. Besides from HIV, midwives have greatly educated women on other sexually transmitted
diseases and how they impact the health outcomes of their families (Tsai et al., 2015). This
education also incorporates some aspect of nutritional and care that goes ahead to ensure the
health welfare of the mother and the child is safeguarded (Kent, 2018). The mothers should

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ensure good nutritional status is given to their children in case the child is infected to prevent
instances of weight loss.
Support and treatment
HIV management doesn’t involve treatment only. It is a challenging and traumatizing virus
which may leave some pregnant women heartbroken and devastated. Midwives, through their
counselling skills, have ensured maximum emotional and psychological support is given to
pregnant women who have been affected by HIV (Elison, Verani & McCarthy, 2015). Therefore,
HIV awareness has been encouraged by midwives through the use of antiretroviral vaccines and
non-antiretroviral measures (Kent, 2018). Support also ensure that the mother who has been
diagnosed with HIV continue with treatment and adhere to proper nutrition and avoidance of
risky behaviours that may endanger others (Yager et al., 2017). Therefore, by doing so, HIV
wariness and management has been a prime role of midwives in ensuring positive health
outcomes to people who have been affected by HIV.
The educational approach during pregnancy and postnatal period.
Ewes and Simnett (2017), have come up with five educational approaches that can be used in
this case to enhance health outcome and health promotion concerning HIV.
Medical approach
The aim during pregnancy and postnatal period are to enable mothers to be free from the HIV
epidemic. Midwives encourage mothers to be screened for HIV to prevent infection and also to
prevent infecting other people after birth. This approach aims to avoid; therefore, midwives also
educate women on risky behaviours that may lead them to acquire HIV. A follow-up may also be
made after prenatal care to make sure a mother is following recommended procedures

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Behavioural change approach
Behavioural change approach focuses on altering patient mentality and attitude, so they apply a
healthy lifestyle. Midwives, therefore, ensure mothers are following a nutritional guideline that is
not only beneficial to them but their unborn children. They are also to adhere to the same
direction after birth (Poston, 2014). To reduce the effect and to manage HIV, they are taught on
how to refrain from risky behaviours that endanger the lives of their families. The aim of the
approach is for mothers to follow a healthy lifestyle
Educational approach
Like discussed in the role of midwives, they also give educational informational to women
during pregnancy and after pregnancy. In an educational approach, women are educated on
nutrition and assisted in using valuable health practices during and after birth (Kimmel & Nash,
2014). Therefore, mothers are encouraged to make an informed decision to prevent infection and
promote positive health outcomes (Bernstein et al., 2016). Midwives, however, may assist them
in discharging these decisions, such as hygiene, knowing their status since it is a personal
decision and cannot be forced by anyone.
Client-centred approach
The client-centered approach focuses on working with mothers to identify their wants and
making decisions in a manner in which it is beneficial to them. During pregnancy and postnatal,
women may have a lot of concerns regarding their health status and that of their young ones.
Therefore, midwives assist such women in getting knowledge and information to improve their
health (Tsai et al., 2015). The main here is to make the mother who is the client, a self-
empowered person who can maintain and improve her health and that of her young ones.

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Midwives, therefore, trust mothers that they are capable of controlling and contributing to their
health. Midwives only offer support, to make sure mothers are capable of living a healthy
lifestyle.
Societal change approach
This is the last approach, according to Ewles and Simnett. The focus of societal change approach
is not the mother but the surrounding and the environment (Alwan et al., 2016). That is the
physical and social environment that surround women. During pregnancy, these environments
may be relationships with other peoples and their spouses or the general view of health in the
society they live (Kram, 2015). Therefore, midwives concern is helping the mothers have a
healthy environment instead of concentrating on them. This may be done through counselling
and awareness
Conclusion
In this assignment, it has been noted that HIV still reigns and continue to be among the World
Health Organization concern. The awareness and management done still haven't bored fruits and
societies continue to suffer from the epidemic. The effect over the past effect has seen countries
invest billions of shillings to fight the disease to no avail (Hamers, 2016). Therefore, they have
decided to incorporate various management and awareness technique. The need to sensitize
society about the danger of HIV and the treatment options available (The Global HIV/AIDS
Epidemic, 2019). It is right from the discussion that awareness has been poorly done in many
countries which have seen poor health outcomes. There have also been cases of manipulation of
the patient as the test for a cure still goes on. Africa, in particular, has tasted the brutal
punishment of HIV with more than 10 million people being affected by the epidemic (Yager et

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al., 2017). The assignment also went ahead and looked at the role of midwives in relationship to
HIV awareness and management, how they safeguard lives and protect the unborn and born
generation. In giving my recommendation, I would hope for more sensitization to the public,
increased awareness to make sure people know the effect of HIV and the method through which
HIV is transmitted. Although the world is trying to control the spread of HIV, it is still a
challenge, and thus, collaboration should be enhanced to make sure possible care or vaccine is
achieved. The hope for a world without HIV is viable.

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