HIV PREVENTION FOR BLACK AFRICAN COMMUNITY

HIV Prevention For Black African Community In England

Abstract

The aim of this study was to inspect health service use in relation to HIV/AIDS prevention in African migrants living in the UK. African migrants particularly residing in the London picked by means of non-probability snowball techniques, finished interviews between June and December 2002. A large majority of the African migrants in this investigation were avid users of main care and felt it was the most suitable place to receive health promotion information. HIV prevention schemes in sub-Saharan African communities have to incorporate the work of African neighbourhood organizations and primary care providers. Many reason are identified which reflect why blacks are more vulnarable to the HIV as compare to the Whites british.

Table of contents

Chapter I4

Introduction4

Background of the context5

Objectives:6

Objectives7

Chapter II9

Discussion9

what makes black africans more vulnarable to HIV9

Sexual transmission9

Drug Use10

Social and economic context of the African British AIDS epidemic11

Poverty12

Lack of access to healthcare16

Gaps of HIV services and recommendation17

Literature review21

African communities in the UK25

Preventing mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT)28

How HIV is Transmitted30

HIV in the Environment31

Kissing35

Biting36

Saliva, Tears, and Sweat36

Insects37

Discussion41

HIV policy47

Surveillance and testing48

Surveillance of undiagnosed HIV prevalence49

Access to HIV testing49

Access to treatment services52

HIV prevention and education53

Other transmission routes55

HIV policy UK55

Access to HIV testing57

Recommendation59

Conclusion62

References64

Chapter I

Introduction

The recent epidemiology of HIV-1 infection in the UK and several Western European countries has been characterized by a marked increase in the number and proportion of new diagnoses attributable to heterosexually acquired infection. (Coakley, E., Petropoulos, C. J. and Whitcomb, J. M. 2005, 55-67)

Seventy-five percent of heterosexually acquired HIV infections diagnosed in the UK in 2003 were in people from Africa, or were associated with exposures there, and black Africans from the Sub-Saharan region now constitute the second largest group affected by HIV/AIDS in the UK. There has also been a significant rise since 1999 in the number of new HIV diagnoses, and those seeking care and treatment, among persons of black Caribbean origin in the UK - the largest proportional increase in an ethnic group apart from black Africans.

Evidence from several sources demonstrates a clear benefit to knowing your HIV status as early as possible in the course of infection. The rates of disease progression to AIDS or death are uniformly low among patients starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with CD4 cell counts of at least 200 cells/mL and delay in initiating HAART when the CD4 count is less than 200 cells/ mL is associated with a poorer virological response than when treatment is initiated above this level. In addition, knowledge of HIV status offers the opportunity to prevent onward transmission to partners and offspring.

Background of the context

However, there are limited data on whether the situation has improved in recent years with more widespread awareness of the benefits of antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, to date, there have been no studies undertaken on the epidemiological features of HIV infection among the black Caribbean community in the UK. Information on trends in the demographic characteristics and stage at HIV diagnosis in different populations can provide valuable insights into which ...