(Answered)-Social approaches to the implementation of preventive methods - (2025 Updated Original AI-Free Solution

Question

Social approaches to the implementation of preventive methods

Name

Institution

Introduction

HIV/Aids are one health epidemic that the relevant authorities cannot ignore in consideration of the diseases impact to the society. The fact that HIV is an incurable disease, the health sector and other humanitarian agencies have taken the initiative to execute prevention and control measures. The control measures include the application of the contraceptives and emergency pills used to control contraction of the disease if victim realises a probability in 3 days after interacting with an infected person. Alternatively, they have also engaged in approaches to help those who are already infected in a bid to facilitate quality of life amongst the people (Gupta et.al, 2008). Accordingly, the health practitioner and social workers engage in activities to assist the patients in accepting their condition and living a healthy life. However, there are adverse issues associated with both prevention and treatment of HIV. The paper intends to carry out an analysis of the social issues oscillating around the implementation of the prevention methods with regards to HIV/Aids health epidemic.

First, the most proposed methods to control the spread of HIV is abstinence. However, it seems that the proposal is not executable since many people cannot exercise the virtue for a long time. Therefore, the health practitioners and social workers opt to propose and promote the use of contraceptives. Unfortunately, the use does a series of problems accompany the contraceptives. Most people have resulted in making the contraceptives and PrEP an excuse for their immoral behaviour.

HIV is mainly transmitted via sexual activities. Accordingly, the use of contraceptives mainly the condoms is proposed. However, the challenge comes when people use the condoms to engage in unscrupulous activities since they feel protected. There is a particular proportion of the population that is not using condoms based on social norms that they are not effective (Pulerwitzet.al, 2002). However, from a social point of understanding, the use of condoms, for instance, has become the resort for most youths who want to engage in sexual intercourse. Therefore, the society?s morals are corrupt since there is an option for the people who intend to engage in sexual activities and yet remain HIV protected.

Further, the use of these condoms has, instead, brought about immorality and extramarital affairs. For instance, most people walk out of wedlock and engage in irresponsible sexual behaviour (Gupta et.al, 2008). It is sometimes unfortunate that condoms are not perfect in protecting the users from contracting the HIV (Pulerwitzet.al, 2002). Accordingly, the issue of marriage break-ups is increasing at an alarming rate despite the fact that the proposed method of preventing individuals from contracting the deadly virus is meant to serve the society in an affirmative manner.

Alternatively, the use of drugs such as the PrEP has also facilitated a change of the societal morals. Particularly, the knowledgeable members of the society are freely engaging in unprotected sex since they feel they have a solution to the problem of contracting HIV aids. Therefore, a very large number of youths and even married men and women are disregarding the potentiality of harm associated with HIV aids since they feel a sense of security from these pills (Gupta, 2008). The issues of ignorance and uncontrolled sexual behaviour now characterised most societies across the world regardless of whether people are married or not. However, it becomes a different scenario when people with HIV are being treated. Most suffer social stigma and hence fail to accept the medications provided to them. Unfortunately, the issue of demise emerges and children become orphans, especially if parents are the victims in this case.

Conclusion

The prevention approaches towards reducing cases of HIV spreading has become a source of alternative adverse social issues. The sense of protection offered by the prevention measures has distorted the morals of the society. Unfortunately, it becomes hard to even for professional social workers to work on the social stigma that affects those who are unlucky and contract the virus through the irresponsible acts.

References

Gupta, G. R., Parkhurst, J. O., Ogden, J. A., Aggleton, P., & Mahal, A. (2008). Structural approaches to HIV prevention. The Lancet, 372(9640), 764-775.

Pulerwitz, J., Amaro, H., Jong, W. D., Gortmaker, S. L., & Rudd, R. (2002). Relationship power, condom use and HIV risk among women in the USA. AIDS care, 14(6), 789-800.