The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) distresses a patient’s immune arrangement hence weakening the defence system against numerous infections encompassing some forms of cancer. With the virus destroying and impairing the operation of immune cells, an infected person progressively becomes immunodeficient. People’s immunity is characteristically gauged by the number of CD4 cells (Brault et al., 2019). Immunodeficiency leads to enhanced vulnerability to a broad scope of diseases, which the immune system of healthy individuals fights off easily. The advanced state of HIV infection is referred to as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and may take a long time to fully develop if treatment is not provided. Effective interventions are crucial in the successful prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
HIV has been a crucial public health concern that has led to the death of more than 33 million people internationally thus far. There are approximately 38 million individuals who currently have HIV. Nonetheless, about 68% of grownups and 55% of minors living with HIV worldwide are accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) (Healthy People 2020, 2020). Health disparities associated with HIV have been established in parameters that encompass connection to and continuance in treatment and viral suppression. For example, both Latino and African Americans are recognized later when their HIV condition has worsened and have a lower possibility of being involved in effective medical care when compared to the Whites. Despite the existence of anti-retroviral therapy (ARV), which led to the dramatic decrease of HIV-associated deaths in all ethnic groups, the levels of decrease were lowest among the African and Latino Americans. Moreover, poor people cannot afford fundamental life requirements and have a high possibilities of finding themselves in situations that lower their access to effective healthcare and raise their risks to HIV infection (for example, lack of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and involvement in sex work for survival).
Health susceptibility is usually linked to social and legal aspects that raise exposure to risky circumstances and generates hindrances to the access to affordable and quality HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. The prioritization of vulnerable populations with suitable interventions could have the greatest significance in the prevention and reduction of new infections. Health professionals may assist in prevention strategies through increased awareness and enlightening people on reduction of the possibility of HIV infection by restricting exposure to risk aspects (Woodard et al., 2018). Essential approaches to HIV prevention are often applied in combination and encompass condom use for both men and women, testing and counselling, use of ARVs, post-exposure prophylaxis, provision of PrEP to HIV-negative individuals, and voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC). Other preventive practices include eradication of mother-to-child HIV transmission and tackling structural barricades for key populations to boost testing and treatment.
HIV may be diagnosed with the help of rapid diagnostic practices that can offer results within a short time. Self-tests have been developed and are progressively being utilized as an effective and acceptable option to boost access to individuals who do not have convenience to HIV testing through facility-established services. Both self-tests and rapid assessments are increasingly enhancing diagnosis and connection with care and treatment (Brault et al., 2019). The fast development of science has resulted in two people realizing ‘functional cure’ after bone marrow transplant and re-introduction of fresh CD4 T cells which cannot be infected with the disease. Nonetheless, there is presently no cure for the treatment of people living with HIV.
The way stress causes neuroendocrine, immune, and behavioral dysfunction might provide new therapeutic progressions both for people living with HIV and the ones at risk. A system under stress has harmful impact, raises vulnerability to psychiatric and neurocognitive illnesses, weakens immune integrity, and raises the possibility of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. These aspects result in weakening of the host defense systems. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), neurotransmitters, and neuromodulators in the central nervous system assist in stress regulation (Woodard et al., 2018). Stress influences the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, other limbic structures, and parts accountable for cognition. This raises susceptibility to infection and decreases immunity through promotion of risky behaviors, establishment of systemic inflammation, and provision of a permissive neuroendocrine setting which has an adverse impact on host defenses.
Though group-provided training carries additional advantages associated with the promotion of social support, many HIV-infected people might be reluctant to attend attributable to confidentiality issues. A promising intervention entails the application of technology-based plans. For example, a phone-anchored stress management program may be implemented to target HIV-infected individuals in rural regions. Apart from mobile phones, computer-based intervention may benefit some patients. Technology-associated programs offer participants increased privacy and flexibility of application (Brault et al., 2019). Technological devices are also portable and may be applied in diverse contexts. For outpatient settings with inadequate resources and underprivileged communities, the implementation of technological interventions is practicable and cost effective to get to a broad category of patients.
The HIV affects patients’ immune structure hence weakening the defense system against several infections encompassing some types of cancer. The advanced condition of HIV infection is termed as AIDS and might take a long time to fully develop when treatment is not delivered. Successful interventions are vital in the successful deterrence and treatment of HIV/AIDS. HIV has resulted in the death of over 33 million people worldwide thus far. Although HIV/AIDS has no cure, there is a broad scope of successful preventive practices encompassing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, use of condom, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, VMMC, and ARV drugs which controls the virus besides facilitating prevention of spread to other individuals. Technology-allied programs offer participants improved privacy and flexibility of use.
References
Brault, M. A., Spiegelman, D., Hargreaves, J., Nash, D., & Vermund, S. H. (2019). Treatment as prevention: Concepts and challenges for reducing HIV incidence. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 82(2), S104-S112. Web.
Healthy People 2020. Evidence-based resource summary. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Web.
Woodard, L. J., Kahaleh, A. A., Nash, J. D., Truong, H., Gogineni, H., & Barbosa-Leiker, C. (2018). Healthy People 2020: Assessment of pharmacists’ priorities. Public Health, 155, 69-80. Web.