Stigma of HIV/AIDS as a Global Problem
The Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which later can progress into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a pandemic that affects many people worldwide. HIV/AIDS still carry a lot of stigma in multiple countries. I have had the opportunity to learn about HIV/AIDS through volunteering with Palmetto Aids Life Support Services (PALSS) in Columbia, SC and through coursework including Caste, Class, and Gender; Introduction to Health, Promotion, Education, Behavior (HPEB 553); Principles of Global Health; and Psychology of Human Sexual Behavior at the University of South Carolina and at Christ University in India.
I began volunteering at PALSS to gain more experience in the HIV/AIDS realm. I was told by my Peace Corps interviewer that I should continue to add to my resume while hinting that I should specifically add more about HIV/AIDS. So, I contacted as many places as I could think of in Columbia, and PALSS responded. I began volunteering in November of 2017 by shadowing the counselors, helping to complete paperwork, and collecting urine for the lab.
I have been able to advance from just shadowing counseling sessions to actually counseling myself. Saturday, February 17th I was able to counsel four patients. Counseling basically means that I have a conversation with clients about their sexual behavior habits to assess their risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and recommend specific testing. Then, after the HIV rapid test and after having completed the analyses that were recommended, I complete a risk reduction plan with them. The risk reduction plan includes recommendations such as getting tested, using protection, and discussing sexual health with all partners. A photo of myself completing the Risk Reduction Plan is posted below as a BTC Artifact.
I began volunteering at PALSS to gain more experience in the HIV/AIDS realm. I was told by my Peace Corps interviewer that I should continue to add to my resume while hinting that I should specifically add more about HIV/AIDS. So, I contacted as many places as I could think of in Columbia, and PALSS responded. I began volunteering in November of 2017 by shadowing the counselors, helping to complete paperwork, and collecting urine for the lab.
I have been able to advance from just shadowing counseling sessions to actually counseling myself. Saturday, February 17th I was able to counsel four patients. Counseling basically means that I have a conversation with clients about their sexual behavior habits to assess their risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and recommend specific testing. Then, after the HIV rapid test and after having completed the analyses that were recommended, I complete a risk reduction plan with them. The risk reduction plan includes recommendations such as getting tested, using protection, and discussing sexual health with all partners. A photo of myself completing the Risk Reduction Plan is posted below as a BTC Artifact.
On Saturday I made an impact on one specific client. One patient wrote my name down because they wanted to contact me shall they need to return. This patient was very honest and was able to be open with me about an uncomfortable topic- risky sexual behavior. I was so pleased that I had made an impact on that patient. That was a defining moment for me because I realized that I truly enjoyed talking to people face-to-face and guiding them along the sometimes scary process of being tested for STIs and HIV.
A course that I took while abroad in India: Caste, Class, Gender (CCG) focused on topics such as cultural tendencies, patriarchy and gender, machismo, the caste and class systems that are prevalent in India and other topics. The class entailed topics that I would personally experience such as patriarchy and the inferiority of women in India- it entailed the undertakings of “culture shock”. In addition to these array of topics, we discussed the role of stigma and how stigma affects whether or not someone might seek care specifically among HIV patients. In my CCG class, I wrote a paper about how, due to the culture, many Indians stigmatize the diagnosis of HIV/AIDs, especially in women and low-caste society members. Stigmatization of this disease is a cultural ideology that exists in many countries but is relatively high in India. The paper can be found below labeled "WTC- C,C,G AIDS in India".
A course that I took while abroad in India: Caste, Class, Gender (CCG) focused on topics such as cultural tendencies, patriarchy and gender, machismo, the caste and class systems that are prevalent in India and other topics. The class entailed topics that I would personally experience such as patriarchy and the inferiority of women in India- it entailed the undertakings of “culture shock”. In addition to these array of topics, we discussed the role of stigma and how stigma affects whether or not someone might seek care specifically among HIV patients. In my CCG class, I wrote a paper about how, due to the culture, many Indians stigmatize the diagnosis of HIV/AIDs, especially in women and low-caste society members. Stigmatization of this disease is a cultural ideology that exists in many countries but is relatively high in India. The paper can be found below labeled "WTC- C,C,G AIDS in India".
WTC- C,C,G AIDS in India.docx | |
File Size: | 49 kb |
File Type: | docx |
As a Public Health major, I have discussed risky sexual behaviors as content in multiple courses. In Community Health Problems (HPEB 553) we discussed comprehensive health education, sexual education laws in schools, and HIV/AIDS. Specifically, we discussed the proportional distribution of AIDS and how it is more prevalent among African Americans and Hispanics and the importance of eliminating these disparities. Attached below is a group paper analyzing STIs in College-Aged, African-American Males that discusses HIV and community based organizations that exist.
In the course titled Introduction to Health, Promotion, Education, Behavior (HPEB 300) we learned about planning health promotion programs and interventions to help fight these disparities mentioned above. We were given the opportunity to design our own programs. My group decided to make our project about HIV. Attached below as an artifact titled "HPEB 300 Intervention Program" is the project that I did with my group in which we designed an intervention including a program rationale, needs assessment, program objectives and more.
Stigma is one of the main reasons that people either do not get tested or are marginalized after a positive result. I was told a story in India by my Caste, Class, Gender professor of a Street Vendor who was diagnosed with HIV. He was completely ostracized by the community and people would no longer purchase from him. Even in the United States we see stigma with the diagnosis of HIV.
Volunteering at PALSS has been a significant experience because I have been able to work directly with people whose lives have been affected with HIV. I have been able to discuss how stigma has affected their lives and how they have overcome it. I have never realized how prevalent HIV truly was. Due to the availability of medicines that make HIV undetectable, many people who are HIV positive live a completely normal life. I have changed for the better working with PALSS and learning about HIV in my courses because now, for me personally, all stigma has disappeared.
In the course titled Introduction to Health, Promotion, Education, Behavior (HPEB 300) we learned about planning health promotion programs and interventions to help fight these disparities mentioned above. We were given the opportunity to design our own programs. My group decided to make our project about HIV. Attached below as an artifact titled "HPEB 300 Intervention Program" is the project that I did with my group in which we designed an intervention including a program rationale, needs assessment, program objectives and more.
Stigma is one of the main reasons that people either do not get tested or are marginalized after a positive result. I was told a story in India by my Caste, Class, Gender professor of a Street Vendor who was diagnosed with HIV. He was completely ostracized by the community and people would no longer purchase from him. Even in the United States we see stigma with the diagnosis of HIV.
Volunteering at PALSS has been a significant experience because I have been able to work directly with people whose lives have been affected with HIV. I have been able to discuss how stigma has affected their lives and how they have overcome it. I have never realized how prevalent HIV truly was. Due to the availability of medicines that make HIV undetectable, many people who are HIV positive live a completely normal life. I have changed for the better working with PALSS and learning about HIV in my courses because now, for me personally, all stigma has disappeared.
WTC- HPEB 300 Intervention Program.pptx | |
File Size: | 4313 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
WTC- HPEB 553 Group Assignment | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
File Type: | docx |