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Background
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is one of the greatest health concerns of the initiative behind Healthy People 2020. The latter has sought to create awareness, provide strategies of preventing the scourge and devise long term plans which stakeholders can put into action. Healthy People 2020 seeks to improve the overall health of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. It also creates policies to guide the process of preventing and managing this terminal condition.
The paper also points out the intervention measures against HIV/AIDS among young people in the United States. It is crucial to mention that the execution of intervention measures ought to take place at the local, state and federal levels.
Target population and setting
A report issued in June 2012 by the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States (NHAS) indicated that HIV infection among the US teenagers who age between 13 and19 years is on the rise (Choi & Hey, 2011). This report further indicates that 70% of teenagers from the African-American segment of the population are highly vulnerable (Gore et al., 2011).
Furthermore, it is evident that male to male sexual intercourse plays a major role in the rising number of HIV infections among the entire teenage population bearing in mind that every 9 out of 10 teenagers who engage in such activities are highly likely to be infected by the scourge (Choi & Hey, 2011). Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida are some of the Southeastern states recording the highest number of HIV infections among teenagers.
HIV prevention among students
Students can play a momentous role in disseminating information pertaining the causative factors and effects of HIV/AIDS. According to Voisin and Bird (2009), peer influence among young people is rife. In other words, they easily embrace ideas and thought processes from each other without weighing the consequences. Erik Erickson explains teenage behavior using identity versus role confusion stage in his theory of psychosexual development. In it, he argues that at the age of 12 to 18years, teenagers move into a stage where they deal with issues on identity and role confusion, and they seek, try new things and acquire a particular identity which is crucial in their later stages of growth and eventual maturity (Bee, 1992).
The article by Voisin and Bird (2009) brings out the problem of HIV infection among teenagers and their peers. The authors appear to concur with the identity versus role confusion argument in Erickson’s theory by asserting that young people find it difficult to go against their peers because they have the freedom to attempt new ideas (Voisin and Bird, 2009: Bee, 1992). Peer influence is particularly strong in the United States owing to the prevalence of habits such as substance abuse and unprotected or unconventional sexual relationships that expose the young people to higher risks of contracting HIV/AIDS.
Misleading information, poorly targeted advertisements and ineffective regulation of information accessed by the public have been counterproductive towards several intervention measures because most teenagers access wrong and misleading information about sex, drugs and substance abuse in society (Thornton, Ryckman & Gold, 2011). According to Choi and Hey (2011), advertisements and certain programs that exhibit sexual contents through televisions, internet and printed media usually propel young people to engage in unsafe sexual activities and drug abuse.
Theoretical framework and Health belief model
Information processing paradigm model is perhaps the most effective health promotion strategy that can counter the spread of HIV/AIDS at the federal and state levels. Persuasive communication that factors stating facts of the problem, creating an understanding of the dangers of careless behavior and HIV, and ensuring that content is accepted and assimilated is a timely and effective tool of information to young people. Thompson and Auslander (2011) strongly advocate for the model by indicating that unless young people are educated and familiarized with the health impacts of HIV/AIDS, other intervention plans might fail to work as expected. Agreeably, lack of information and facts about societal behavior and the rise of new HIV infections among teenagers is a common issue. For instance, establishing a website that presents facts about HIV infections would effectively allow teenagers to confront the realities of their indiscriminate behavioral tendencies (Thompson & Auslander, 2011). An effectively customized website would allow teenagers to not merely search for information. It will also assist them to obtain direct answers on the causes, development, impacts, prevention and management of HIV/AIDS.
Literature review
The article by Voisin and Bird (2009) aims at exploring the effects that result from teenage behavior, the spread of HIV and intervention programs. They indicate that in order to capture the attention of more teenagers and ensure that they embrace prevention and management measures for HIV/AIDS, the creation of health promotion forums should seek to use teenagers in reaching out their peers. This consideration has articulately been brought out in the Health People 2020 with new issues such as creating HIV awareness and prevention, preparedness, and social determinants of health among others being encouraged (Health People.Gov, 2011). In particular, Voisin and Bird (2009) add that the promotion should create a forum within which teenagers can freely interact and share facts about HIV/AIDS including its effects.
Information processing paradigm model plays an important role of exposure, information search and dissemination, behavior re-enforcement and decision making in the promotion and interventions of HIV among teenagers. According to Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2010), focus on changing teenagers’ behaviors should always seek to enrich peers through positive influence as opposed to pursuing methods of eliminating bad company. Holding key forums that bring together teenagers across the nation to discuss the health problem can be very effective in disseminating the intended messages. In agreement, Gore et al (2011) cite that this will ensure teenagers get, comprehend and assimilate the correct informative message in order to positively influence their behavioral patterns (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). According to the trans-theoretical model, the need for a change of behavior to address particular habits for positive growth (McCrae & Costa, 1997). Teachers and parents should develop an open-door policy where teenagers can feel free to raise issues affecting them without any element of fear. This will enhance elimination of unhealthy behaviors by adopting health ones via discussions, contemplation, intervention and action strategies.
According to Health People 2020 (2011), a continuous support system should be put in place to cater for the healthcare needs of young people who are prone to HIV/AIDS infection. Thornton, Ryckman and Gold (2011) suggest that free counseling and testing centers for HIV/AIDS can be set up from the local to federal levels. This intervention program should incorporate additional support resources, balanced coverage and presentation of reality on the ground. This can also moderate and support the intervention system (Thornton, Ryckman & Gold, 2011).
Research-based intervention and intended outcomes
Research on HIV/AIDS interventions is necessary to ensure that teenagers and other more vulnerable individuals are safe from HIV infections. A familiar study conducted by Thornton, Ryckman and Gold (2011) demonstrated that behavioral interventions are critical in lowering instances of new HIV/AIDS infections among teenagers.
The purpose of conducting such studies is to establish key influences related to sexual-risk taking among American teenagers. Using a qualitative study model, the researchers found out that several black American teenagers often engage in risky sexual behaviors without contemplating the underlying risks.
Evaluation plan to measure efficacy of the proposed intervention
Intervention programs that may be put in place have been extensively discussed in most past empirical studies. To determine the best intervention method for HIV promotion, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the best tool for understanding behavioral factor. Besides, focused group is used as a tool to obtain valuable information from teenagers in relation to HIV promotion as demonstrated in the tables below.
References
Bee, H. L. (1992). The developing child. London: HarperCollins.
Choi, S. & Hey, J. (2011). Joint inference of population assignment and demographic history. Genetics, 189(2), 561-577.
Gore, F.M., Bloem, J.N.P., Patton, G.C., Ferguson, J., Joseph, V., Coffey, C., …Mathers, C.D. (2011). Global burden of disease in young people aged 10-24 years: a systematic analysis. The Lancet, 377(9783), 2093-2102.
Health People 2020 (2011). Web.
McCrae, R. R., & Costa P. T. (1997). Personality trait structure as a human universal. American psychologist, 52(5), 509-511.
Thompson, R. G. & Auslander, W.F. (2011). Substance use and mental health problems as predictors of HIV sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in foster care. Health and Social Work, 36(1), 33-43.
Thornton, B., Ryckman, R. & Gold, J. (2011). Competitive orientations and the type a behavior pattern. Psychology, 2(5), 411-415.
Voisin, D.R. & Bird, J.D.P. (2009). What African American male adolescents are telling us about HIV infection among their peers: Cultural approaches for HIV prevention. Social Work, 54(3), 201-210.
Zastrow, C. & Kirst-Ashman K. (2010). Understanding human behavior and the social environment. New York: Cengage Learning.
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