Class crossover

I'm currently taking Community Health with Teach along with this course. I read a very disturbing statistic in my text that I wanted to share. It stated, "...31% of teenage girls get pregnant at least once before they reach age 20" (McKenzie, Pinger, & Kotecki). The inital thought of this statistic shocked me, and then it got me thinking: If almost one in three girls become pregnant before the age of 20, can I make the assumption that one in three girls are probably not using protection? Sure, some of those pregnancies can be attributed to a torn condom or a pregnancy on the pill. But I suspect that the majority of those pregnancies resulted from not using protection. And if this many teens (and yes, I consider a 20 year old a teen) are not using protection, where is the sex ed in our high schools?

This week's QOTW was about helping an injured person who had HIV. I look forward to reading the answers from my fellow classmates. I wouldn't have a problem helping an HIV positive individual, even if they were profusely bleeding. I hope many of my classmates feel the same way.

Now if any teens end up on this blog for some reason, could you please read that statistic again? And run to Walgreen's and get some protection? The youth out there is scaring me.

"An Introduction to Community Health" by McKenzie, J., Pinger, R., and Kotecki J.

Did you know?

Africa is no doubt the place most in peril when it comes to HIV. Global efforts always seem to focus on Africa, and with good reason. The numbers of those suffering with HIV in Africa are staggering and there is still antiquated thinking that poses an obstacle to becoming fully educated about the disease. Despite the best efforts, however, part of that antiquated thinking comes up in the form of gay discrmination.

In 2007, Reuters reported that many gay Africans are faced with teasing and are ridiculed when they try to seek treatment for HIV. HIV is still considered pretty taboo in Africa, even with the prevalent numbers. Being openly gay is also criminalized in Africa. Combine that with gay discrimination and you now have a formula for disaster. This creates a population that is probably not going to seek treatment out of fear, embarrassment, or possible estrangement from their family and/or loved ones.

"Homophobic stigma, the denial of homosexuality, and legislation that criminalizes same-sex behavior, all serve to push the issue of same sex HIV transmission further underground, and drastically limit HIV services" (reuters.com).

Of all the places I can think of that doesn't need discrimination based on HIV, it is Africa. While I doubt it will happen anytime soon, Africa would be better off looking at the health of their people and not worrying about their private sexual practices. Once again, only through accurate and consistent education can we beat this disease.

www.reuters.com/article/idUSL0159088020070301

We shouldn't be afraid of HIV...

This week's question of the week topic was to ask other people in our circle of friends questions regarding HIV. I saw a recurring theme: People's somewhat negative reactions to HIV and how many people are not only scared to talk about it, but are also scared of the disease itself. What promotes this fear?

I think a major factor in why people may be afraid of the disease is lack of education. Education takes many forms. Of course early HIV education plays a pivotal role in how youth perceives those who have HIV. But education can continue well after high school and college. Sometimes just talking around the family dinner table (if you have one....a family or a dinner table would certainly help!) or starting a dialogue with a mere stranger can foster an exchange. These exchanges may lead to someone who once didn't know anything about HIV to venture out into the world of the internet and library and possibly learn a thing or two. You can teach an old dog new tricks!

Did you know?

Many people still have the thought that gay = AIDS, or AIDS = gay. I don't even like the term "AIDS"...it is antiquated at best. But this thought process still blankets America today, especially throughout our conservative states, in my opinion. This quote from the National AIDS Trust says it best: "The link in people's minds between homosexuality and AIDS is so firmly established that discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS is inseparable from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation." (National AIDS Trust, 2003)

Why is this? Another recurring theme, in my opinion: a lack of education. When some hard right conservatives push their agenda onto our HIV education platform, we foster a relationship of mistrust between teacher and student. Teachers can't say all they want in regards to HIV education, and teachers may not be able to point out misconceptions to their students, as well. HIV is not a prostitute's disease. It is not a drug abuser's disease. It is not a black man's disease, or a gay man's disease. HIV is a PEOPLE'S disease, and we better learn this fact pretty quick if we want to help others and survive.

Calling HIV "the gay plague" or "the gay cancer" in the media certainly didn't help things along in the beginning. There was a case a few years back about a movie projectionist who had been charged with gross indecency in a restroom. He was openly gay in the workplace. Fellow employees put two and two together and determined, a-ha! He must have HIV, too! This led to workplace discrimination as others refused to work with or near him for fear of his "gay disease." By the way, he wasn't HIV positive.

Until we teach our children, our family, our friends, our neighbors, and anyone and everyone else who will listen, that HIV is not a gay disease, we will continue to see HIV discrimination in the workplace and beyond. It is up to us as responsible citizens to share our knowledge and pass this message on.

www.hawaii.edu/hivaids/HIVAIDS%20stigma%20and%20Discrimination%20%20%20Gay%20Men.pdf

Keep on trucking...

This week we were asked a troublesome scenario: While on African safari, we injured ourselves to the tune of a compound fracture of the leg. Given the choice of a possibly infected blood transfusion or waiting 20 hours for U.S. blood, what would one do? For me, it was an easy choice. I don't like blood, and I certainly don't like the idea of bleeding out. I'm also not too fond of bones sticking out of my body, so I'd take my chances with the blood transfusion.

Module 1 was an explosion of data and educational material that should be required material shown to all students in high school. It was very in-depth and well written. There were so many concepts that I wasn't aware of in my 15 years of working for a couple of ID docs. Some of the statistics were sad to know, but I'm better off for it. I'm relieved that a class with this magnitude of material on HIV is available to UCF students. Those outside of health majors should consider taking it. It certainly is an eye opener.

Did You Know?

Up until 2008, the Peace Corps had a policy stating that if you tested positive for HIV, you had to hit the road. The Peace Corps is responsible for missions that reach far and wide to many countries. Peace Corps volunteers provide education in underdeveloped countries by teaching and living in those countries.

When one goes on the Peace Corps' website, under "What is the Peace Corps?" tab, the second paragraph states that "nearly 200,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation..." (peacecorps.gov)

I wonder what kind of AIDS education the Peace Corps was teaching up until 2008? Did they believe that an HIV positive teacher would pose a threat to the students? Apparently so. Jeremiah Johnson was a Peace Corps volunteer in early 2008. He was an English teacher in the Ukraine, and the only volunteer in Rozdilna.

An HIV test is required as part of the medical examination for the Peace Corps. His initial test was negative. His mid-service exam, however, yielded a positive HIV result. He was told by the Peace Corps that his service could not be continued in the Ukraine due to a law barring HIV positive individuals from working in the country (aclu.org). He was then informed that his services wouldn't be needed anywhere else, either. In the summer of 2008, after Johnson filed a complaint with the ACLU, the Peace Corps have reversed their decision and now will not fire anyone solely for being HIV positive.

While this is a great stride in HIV discrimination, how many people were turned down or terminated prior to Johnson? And leaving country's HIV laws off the table, why would the Peace Corps think that an HIV positive individual would pose a danger to those that they are serving? The last time I checked, volunteers taught students. They didn't share needles or have sex with them. It makes me wonder what their "AIDS education" curriculum was all about in the first place.

http://www.peacecorps.gov/

www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights_hiv-aids/hiv-advocacy-behalf-peace-corps-volunteer

Getting settled in...

This class is off to a good start. I am happy that I am learning more and more about HIV disease with every passing conversation, discussion board, and article. So much information is available on the topic, and having the opportunity to discuss openly with those that are afflicted with the disease puts a real world aspect on this class that cannot be done with others. I am looking forward to attending the panels that are being offered and putting the names to some faces that I've been communicating with.

The blogging topic for this week is ASO's in other parts of the country. I really wanted to learn more about China's ASO's, and found a few that looked promising (HomeAIDS, AIDS Concern, and TeenAIDS) but unfortunately Google wouldn't translate any of the pages for me. Cest la vie. I decided to take a closer look to see what our upstairs neighbor, Canada, had to offer.

The ASO I came across is called ACT, which stands for AIDS Committee of Toronto. ACT provides services to those who are infected and affected, as well as provide education to those that want to learn more. Specifically for the HIV population, some of the services provided include free counseling, transportation services, and employment help for those re-entering the workforce.

One service that ACT offers that I found to be of interest is a consultation with a naturopathic physician and graduating students of naturopathy schools. These consultations are to help evaluate the client to determine if there are alternative medicines to help ease the side-effects of anti-retroviral therapy. I had never heard of the term "naturopathic" prior to this, and had to ask the physician I worked for what it meant. It roughly translates to natural medicine. Natural medicine I have heard of, but I had no idea that one could receive a degree in naturopathy.

ACT also provides forums and educational seminars led by medical experts. These forums are open to the public. It looks as though ACT is doing a lot of good up in Canada. Their services reach far and wide, and many are very specific to those infected with HIV.

www.actoronto.org/home.nsf/pages/livingwithHIV

Did you Know?

Cirque du Soleil: A dancer and gymnast's dream. Those who have been around the gay community may think that "The Arts" have a long and deep relationship within the community. This is especially true in matters concerning HIV discrimination. While history has proved this to be true for the most part, there are still instances of HIV discrimination in every facet of life, including the arts.

According to Lamda Legal, Matthew Cusick was an aspiring dancer and trapeze artist who passed the tryouts at the Orlando Cirque du Soleil. While he disclosed his HIV status to those closest to him, he kept it from his employers at Cirque du Soleil. Upon finding out about his HIV status, the company terminated his employment due to the risk of injuring other performers or audience members.

Was this a case of intolerance or a true risk assessment? The courts found it to be the former. There wasn't any scientific evidence available to determine that there was a substantial risk, and the courts found in Cusick's favor. At what cost did this come? How about disclosure of his HIV status to whoever picked up a newspaper at the time. While it was a hefty price to pay for Cusick, his openess paved the way for other companies to take note that discrimination, in any form, cannot be justified. According to Lamda Legal, Cirque du Soleil paid a record $600,000 for the wrongful termination. An expensive lesson, indeed.


www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/matter-of-matthew-cusick-and-cirque-du-soleil.html

www.abanet.org/irr/hr/fall04/casestudy.htm