HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is a severe public health issue that affects people everywhere; this study explicitly targets an urban neighborhood with a varied population. HIV is the virus that causes HIV infection. HIV is an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most severe stage of HIV infection that can develop without effective treatment (National Institutes of Health, 2023). Due to their compromised immune systems, people with AIDS are more vulnerable to opportunistic infections and other health issues.
Selected Population and Demographic Data
The population under selection lives in a diversified urban neighborhood. People in the community lead a variety of lifestyles, from safer sexual practices to high-risk activities. Those that fit this demographic include:
- Location: City neighborhood.
- Lifestyle: Diverse, combining safer sexual practices with high-risk activities.
- Age range: All age groups are represented, while young adults (18–35) comprise the majority.
- Racial and ethnic composition: varied, encompassing Asian, Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian populations.
- Genders distribution: women and girls made up 53% of all HIV-positive individuals, compared to around 47% of men and boys (UNAIDS, 2023).
- Work status: Students, jobless people, and employed people.
- Marital status distribution: a mixture of single, married, and people in various phases of their relationships.
- Income levels: Diverse, ranging from low-income to high-income.
- Education levels: Wide-ranging, from recent high school graduates to college graduates.
- Mixed employment status: students, unemployed, and employed.
Characteristics of the Hypothetical Individual
Maria, a 25-year-old urban college student, is the main target of our health promotion program. She frequently has intercourse but seldom ever wears condoms, which puts her at a high risk of contracting HIV and other STDs (National Institutes of Health, 2023). She may have misunderstandings regarding the severity and spread of HIV despite her limited knowledge of the disease.
Due to financial limitations, Maria has difficulty accessing healthcare, making it challenging for her to pay for routine examinations and preventative measures like condoms (Rahman et al., 2019). Along with her fear of stigma and condemnation, she might not be aware of the testing clinics and educational opportunities that are accessible. Her hectic schedule further hampers her inability to attend academic courses and make medical visits. Maria is a high-risk community member who requires focused interventions; thus, her profile is crucial to our efforts to promote health.
Rationale for Health Concerns and Health Needs
The targeted urban population has a higher-than-average risk of contracting HIV due to things like having several unprotected sexual partners. Remarkably, according to Healthy People 2030 (2023), 50% of instances of HIV infection among teenagers occur through unprotected sexual activity. Maria’s actions in this situation are consistent with these alarming patterns. Timely testing, diagnosis, and availability of preventive tools like condoms are hampered by limited access to healthcare owing to budgetary restrictions.
In addition, a lot of people in this community don’t know enough about HIV/AIDS, which leads to dangerous actions and beliefs (Waymack & Sundareshan, 2023). Young individuals like Maria need to close the information gap about HIV prevention. Through the implementation of focused interventions addressing lifestyle choices, expanding access to healthcare, and raising educational attainment, we can successfully reduce the likelihood of catastrophic health outcomes and HIV-related deaths. This health promotion strategy is essential for raising awareness, making materials readily available, and enabling people like Maria to make knowledgeable decisions about their sexual health.
Sociogram Development
Maria’s sociogram describes her diverse social, economic, and cultural aspects. She has strong family ties, but in her community, there are conservative attitudes toward sexual health conversations. Financial constraints limit her access to healthcare, affecting the purchase of preventive resources. She is involved in multiple casual relationships, uses condoms infrequently, and undergoes HIV testing on an irregular basis due to time constraints (Healthy People 2030, 2023).
Her lack of knowledge about local resources exacerbates her difficulties. She is vulnerable to HIV as a 25-year-old in the dating scene. The sociogram assists in developing an educational plan that addresses Maria’s specific needs while also reducing her HIV vulnerability.
Identifying Learning Needs and SMART Goals
Maria’s SMART goals for health promotion are well-aligned with both the HIV prevention theme and her unique situation. Specific objectives, such as regular condom use, aim to curb her risky behavior. Measurable objectives provide proof of adherence by tracking progress through data recording. Achievable objectives test Maria inside the constraints of her lifestyle. Relevant objectives minimize HIV susceptibility and directly align with Maria’s needs. Time-bound goals provide a defined period for evaluation, such as pledging to use condoms consistently for three months (Rahman et al., 2019).
The SMART goals are a structured framework designed explicitly for Maria. They aim to improve her knowledge of HIV prevention and encourage safer sexual practices. They are perfectly in line with the overall theme of HIV prevention in her medical context.
Current Behaviors and Expectations
Maria engages in hazardous sexual activity, frequently having unprotected intercourse. Her hazy history of HIV testing also suggests a possible lack of understanding about sexual health, which is concerning given that just 4% of respondents to a recent poll said they knew very little about HIV/AIDS (Rahman et al., 2019). Maria will learn the value of routine HIV testing, be encouraged to talk openly about sexual health and be encouraged to engage in safe sexual behaviors.
Health Promotion Goals
Maria establishes SMART goals for health promotion, such as ensuring consistent condom use in all sexual encounters and scheduling HIV tests every six months. These objectives are intended to promote safer sexual practices and reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Maria is expected to incorporate these changes into her sexual health regimen over the next three months to improve her overall well-being.
References
Healthy People 2030. (2023). HIV workgroup. Web.
National Institutes of Health. (2023). HIV and AIDS: The basics. Web.
Rahman, F., Marlinae, L., Sari, A., Ramadhani, M., & Putri, A. (2019). Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome knowledge level and implications for Health Promotion Program on high school students at Banjarbaru City. Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS, 40(1), 35. Web.
UNAIDS. (2023). Global HIV & AIDS statistics – fact sheet. Web.
Waymack, J. R., & Sundareshan, V. (2023). Acquired immune deficiency syndrome. NCBI. Web.