the hiv aids epidemic navajo nation
Introduction
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and obtained immunodeficiency affliction (AIDS) initially came under scrutiny in the United States through the HIV/AIDS break out of the 1980’s, catalyzing an epidemic characterized by reproach. HIV is an incurable computer virus that leaves the body susceptible to infection and progresses in stages, with AIDS getting the most severe phase of HIV suggested by a greatly weakened immunity process. When the disease first incited public attention, many inaccurately believed which the disease could be spread by simply air, mosquitos, or even simply by shaking hands, as stated by simply HIV. gov (2018). The transmission and proliferation of HIV/AIDS is principally due to harmful behavioral parts such as unprotected sex and the sharing of used sharp needles amongst 4 drug users. Sex and drugs are themes of anathema, resulting in testing not being since widespread as it needs to be due to this taboo. The trifecta of shame, failing to acquire tested, and unprotected love-making occur concurrently and permit the condition to distributed, often without the knowledge of all those infected until it is too later. According to the Chef Family Foundation, 14% of the people infected with HIV never get examined, and thus usually do not even realize that they are infected continuing to spread the condition (2018). Although research, community education, and mortality rates for HIV/AIDS have certainly improved, the condition still remains one of the most stigmatized and feared infectious illnesses.
This paper will focus on HIV/AIDS outcomes in the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is a sovereign region located in the Four Sides region with the American south west, including Colorado, Utah, Arizona ( az ), and New Mexico. Through the onset of the HIV/AIDS outbreak of the 1980’s, conditions had been so bad that Navajo males were reported to head into clinics having a mere coughing and then perish within times, nearly one third of those cured died (Frosch, 2013). There are factors between the Navajo that increase the tendency to partake in the unsafe behavior which may lead to HIV/AIDS. Although broadly and traditionally rich, the legacy of colonialism has condemned Natives to upkeep life that is certainly rampant with alcohol and drug abuse, poor education, and higher prices of incarceration. These elements combined with deeply embedded ethnical stigma against both diseases in general and homosexuality produce an environment in which HIV/AIDS can easily burgeon. Seemingly, efforts to destigmative the condition are crucial to the production of better health effects for HIV/AIDS. To offer an intervention proposal, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Navajo Country will be analyzed via the constructs of the Cultural Cognitive Theory (SCT).
Key Body
Public well-being Problem and Behavior
While there are numerous social and cultural elements at work in the HIV/AIDS crisis, the most harmful health habit to the distributed of HIV/AIDS in the Navajo Nation is refrainment by STD screening by afflicted individuals. In the Navajo, the condition is most prevalent amongst lgbt males, constituting 75% from the Navajo ASSISTS Network (Frosch, 2013). These types of males participate in unprotected sexual activities, agreement HIV, also because they are under no circumstances get analyzed they unconsciously bringing the disease back to the reservation. Even if they do occur to know of their very own diagnosis, immense shame maintains them coming from disclosing this information, and the disease continues to distributed.
The main cause of this public welfare behavior is judgment that comes from multiple fronts. In america in general, right now there stigma remains to be against HIV/AIDS and homosexuality. Specific towards the Navajo, there exists additional culturally-driven stigma towards these two elements. Additionally , as in most close-nit communities, pity culture can be exacerbated. In an evidence-based report by Commun Legal, it was found that in a 2009 survey by Kaiser Relatives Foundation, 34% of respondents still thought that HIV could be propagate via posting a ingesting glass, using the same bathroom seat, and/or swimming inside the same pool area (2010). One Navajo person reported how his personal mother would not hug him and only served him meals on disposable plastic china that would certainly not be used by simply anyone else (Frosch, 2013). Despite having more education, viewpoints haven’t improved since the 1980’s. The percentage of people who believe that HIV may be transmitted simply by sharing a drinking a glass is even higher today than in 1987 (Lambda Legal, 2010). Not surprisingly, this type of interpersonal reaction and lack of community tolerance defers STD screening. HIV/AIDS stigma is a difficulty not only since it makes people fear testing, but since it also minimizes quality of life. Internalized HIV judgment is correlated with stress, loneliness, isolation, panic, and hopelessness “all factors that are recognized to expedite the course and severity of disease (Lambda Legal, 2010). Additionally , bigotry still exists in the United States towards the LGBTQ community. Although advances towards equality in the US have got undoubtedly happened since the first HIV/AIDS break out, most notably inside the legalization of gay marriage, the same can not be said intended for the Navajo Nation. Gay marriage remains to be an illegality within the Navajo Nation, the Dine Matrimony Act, which in turn outlaws homosexual marriage have not yet been abolished irrespective of repeal initiatives (Turkewitz, 2015). While homosexual marriage is still a crime, it is unsurprising that Navajo males choose to undergo in silence in fear of community backlash rather than get tested and remedied.
This kind of behavior has established a public welfare problem for the Navajo that has not dissipated with time. The improved risk for HIV/AIDS in the Navajo nation in comparison to other masse cannot be modest. Like almost all infectious disorders, HIV/AIDS disorders indiscriminately, and yet there remains a disparity among ethnic groups. The proliferation of knowledge concerning the indication and development of HIV/AIDS has ended in better wellness outcomes total, with HIV incidences lowering in general throughout the United States. But this positive trend will not apply to the Navajo market, with these types of numbering having quadrupled in the Navajo Country, as reported by Iralu et. al (2010). Infected individuals can still experience HIV, but early analysis, access to facilities, and inexpensive health care are necessary to extend your survival time “many of which can be not readily accessible to Navajo people. Poverty among the Navajo is a main contributor towards the HIV/AIDS crisis. 24% of American Indians and Alaskan Local people live in lower income, twice the national typical (12%), according to Iralu et. approach (2010). Lower income creates a obstacle to source access, prohibiting the Navajo from being able to view HIV attention. While HIV/AIDS infection rates are not higher among Navajo as they are for whites and are even less than those of Latinos and blacks, Navajo are much less likely to make it through than some other racial/ethnic group (Froscher, 2013). The aforementioned talks on stigma operate synchronously with low income factors, and are also likely the cause of this sad health dilemma.
Theoretical Examination of Behavior
The Social Cognitive Theory posits that the interaction between individual behavior, personal factors, and environmental elements is a synergetic process, alter within one particular sphere illicits a testing change in other spheres (Edberg, 2015). This kind of phenomenon is referred to as reciprocal determinism: people input behavioral improvements based on personal factors and social cues and generate adjustments based upon the feedback they obtain in what is a continuously online cycle among person and environment. These behavioral inputs made by the individual require self-efficacy “people need to believe in their own ability to alter, overcome, and accomplish. The planet includes the physical environment as well as the cultural one developed by others. SCT contains a plethora of constructs that aim to make clear behavior: self-efficacy, self-control, objectives, expectancies, psychological arousal, behavioral capability, scenario, observational modeling, and strengthening (Edberg, 2015).
Concerning self-efficacy, Navajo men will need to have the confidence to receive tested intended for HIV and then share these details with people who would be troubled by this information. Safe sex is equally as much about physical protection such as condoms as it is the sharing of sensitive lovemaking information like STD control with potential sexual partners. The decision to disclose this information, or to even merely open your self to the probability that they may well have HIV, is a great act of courage that requires self-efficacy that life will still be okay following testing amidst the demands of HIV/AIDS and lgbt insensitivity. At present, the levels the self-efficacy amongst HIV-positive Navajo individual seems to be low. Self-control seems to be relevant to self-efficacy, yet is different it that is deals with the degree to which persons believe what happens to them is due to an internal or perhaps external positionnement of control. HIV-infected Navajo men seem to have an inside locus of control, acknowledging that the disease is a merchandise of their own decision-making, but then another locus of control in terms of their own endurance when they resign to not pursue diagnosis or treatment.
The next construct is objectives, the anticipated outcomes of what will happen if the Navajo gentleman chooses to get tested based on their particular past encounters, the experiences of others, and the potential emotional and physical consequences. The overwhelming expectation of HIV-positive Navajo men seems to be that their loved ones will shun them. This seems to be maintained the mentioned before scenario in which a Navajo man experienced cold behavior via his own mother if he disclosed his disease to her. Hearing about scenarios like this one, which can be common, will be discouraging in front of large audiences who might be uncertain in the event that they want to reveal their disease or even figure out they have this. The same gentleman reports that his complete family will not even find out and that he would not tell his brothers out of anxiety about being remove from their existence, a dread that is likely shaped simply by his experience of his mom (Frosch, 2013). Expectancies differ from expectations in this they matter the value a person locations on the end result. The Navajo Nation ideals family and community, so it is smart that a Navajo man might fear social rejection even more negatively then simply say, someone who lives in the location and lives a more self-employed lifestyle.
Emotional excitement levels as a construct deals with the possible emotional reactions to behavioral effects and the individual’s ability to handle these thoughts. Fear of rejection from the community seems to be a driving aspect in the elimination of HIV testing, promoting this adverse health tendencies. Concerning behavioral capability, this construct would not seem to be as prominent because the others in explaining the proliferation of HIV/AIDS crisis amongst the Navajo. The Navajo are educated enough to learn how to begin seeking testing and remedies. Albeit you will discover significant limitations to care such as low income and the limited number HIV specialists in the Four Sides region, waste seems to be a stronger adding factor as to why Navajo aren’t getting analyzed (Iralu ou al, 2010).
Condition has played a large role in healthy diet the HIV/AIDS epidemic as well. As stated ahead of, the Navajo Nation is definitely not an environment that is completely tolerant of homosexuality, in fact it is still unlawful. HIV/AIDS is usually not talked about freely and misconceptions nonetheless persist.
