The events detailed in this book, And The Band Plays On, serves as a paradigm for improving the lives of HIV infected individuals, primarily by outlining the many mistakes that were made. It is clearly delineated in the book how the significance of unity and having a common goal is necessary to overcome an epidemic. It shows the monstrosity created when self-interest, lack of education and ignorance replaces common interest, substantial knowledge, and logic. The book demonstrates the difference that social work might have played and did play when and if educated properly. The utilization of social work could have offset the cold and insensitive manner that HIV/ AIDS patients received.
Social isolation, poor housing, unemployment and poverty are all linked to mental ill health. So stigma and discrimination can trap people in a cycle of illness. The situation is exacerbated by the media. Media reports often link mental illness with violence, or portray people with mental health problems as dangerous, criminal, evil, or very disabled and unable to live normal, fulfilled lives. 2.2 How mental illness can have an impact on the individual: Psychologically: - person may become paranoid and therefore exclude him or her self -person may become paranoid and therefore hurt others who she/he fears will try to hurt him/her -person may become isolated and therefore out of touch with other people and reality in general -person may feel unloved even if it is not true -person may feel like he/she is a threat to society and therefore attempt suicide emotionally: -person may feel isolated, unloved, paranoid, panicked and non-human (read Francis Kafka's The Metamorphosis)
Discriminatory practices are very influential on the people that use health and social care services; I will explain these effects and give examples. (1) Marginalisation is when you feel like you are not liked within a group or in other words you don’t feel like you are a part of a group or society.In health and social care everyone should be treated equal and marginalisation is not allowed. An example of this is a youth worker excluding a homosexual teenager based on his sexuality. (1) Disempowerment is to make someone feel devalued this could happen to either an individual or groups. The victim could be discriminated by a valued group/individual or powerful group/individual.
Approximately one in four patients receiving HIV treatment are not consistent with their care. Assisting people with HIV remain in care is a way to reduce their chances of getting sick and prevent the spread of the virus. Studies have shown that women who became infected through heterosexual contact were more than likely to remain adherent to medications and treatment. There are men who have sex with men who do not identify or consider themselves as being gay, that are affected by HIV virus. Many of these men live heterosexual lives with their family and children however continue having sex with other men.
To continue, ill health can also be affected by there not being enough health care services for individuals to access. There are also ethnicity barriers which can be the cause of limited access to health care services. These barriers include language and other cultural barriers. For instance a service user may not speak the same language used at the health care service therefore this can affect the effectiveness of communication between the service and the patient; this will also affect how successful the treatment of the patient may be. Another example for culture being an ethnicity barrier may be that a patient (Asian female) may not wish to be treated by a male doctor as
There is also a need for education throughout the community to ensure acceptance and support for gays and lesbians to access resources in the community. Ethnicity and culture gays and lesbians may experience difficulties in accessing services because of their own ethnic or cultural beliefs. Homosexuality may be unacceptable in their religion. For many it can mean that they lead to a situation where they hide their sexuality from their family and community. Gender previously the age of consent for homosexual males made it difficult for the group to access medical attention as it was against the law to provide information on illegal sexual acts.
Many teens face depression and may have sexual related issues, but the challenge for them to get adequate and necessary treatment can be an issue. Fear of a lack of confidentiality is often the main reason this group fails to participate in treatment of these sensitive issues from health care providers. (English & Ford, 2007). A breach of confidentiality in juvenile health care has several implications. For boys, there is the risk of severe depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts.
To understand the problem at hand, it is imperative that we identify the need for the dispensers. AIDS is a growing world epidemic. At the end of 2009 the number for AIDS related deaths were 1.8 million. (www.avert.org/worldstats.htm) Jersey is not immune to these staggering numbers. In 2008 34,766 people where diagnosed with HIV in New Jersey.
describe the effects of poor personal hygiene on health and well-being. The effect of poor personal hygiene on health and well-being may develop from social problems to serious diseases. Body and dental odour are one of the first consequences of poor hygiene. Person can be excluded from society around them, feeling insecure, losing their confidence and self-esteem. Poor hygiene may lead to social difficulties and isolation.
Also, person who had been treated for chlamydia previously still runs the risk of being re-infected with the disease. Having any STDs, including Chlamydia, also increases the risk for HIV due to the sores and bleeding associated with their symptoms. While using male condoms will reduce the risk of infection, abstinence is the only truly effective way to prevent Chlamydia and all other