The Sociological Factors That Contribute to the Spread of AIDS - Essay Example

Medical Sociology Name Institution Date Medical Sociology: HIV/AIDS Introduction AIDS is one of the diseases that have caused millions of deaths and it has no known cure (Gilbert & Walker, 2010). The illness has a lot of social implications. In developing countries, the disease has had a devastating effect on the social lives of the people. Most people have either been infected or affected by the disease. The concepts of medical sociology have been used to create an understanding of the effects of the disease on the social lives of the people and factors that contribute towards its spread. Social issues have made it difficult for the disease to be prevented in Africa. The disease is still spreading at a high rate in developing countries despite the efforts that are being put in place to prevent its spread. The paper discusses the sociological factors that contribute to the spread of AIDS in relation to an article by the International journal of sociology and anthropology about AIDS in Nigeria. The disease will be described in details in order to create an understanding of its original and nature of transmission. The cultural factors as well as the perceptions of the people about the disease will also be analyzed Discussion About AIDS AIDS was first diagnosed in the early 1980s and it was mainly blamed on the gay people at the time. However, the disease is currently widespread both in the homosexual and heterosexual populations. It attacks the immune system making the body weak and unable to fight other diseases or conditions. The most common form of transmission of AIDS is through sexual intercourse with an infected person. It is not curable and it has turned out to be an epidemic that has killed millions of people. A lot of stigma is usually associated with AIDS in most countries as the disease is sexually transmitted (Bennett, et al, 2013). This is because of the perception that those who contract the disease are immoral. However, it is not the case as the disease can also be spread through other means like sharing needles or syringes with an infected person or mother to child transmission. AIDS can only be managed through the use of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). On the other hand the use of contraceptives like condoms is one of the methods used to prevent infection. In some countries, the disease is viewed as a death sentence and this has contributed to the stigmatization of those suffering from it. The stigmatization has created a lot of fear among the members of the society with most people refusing to be tested. This makes it difficult for the medical professional to deal with the disease and hence the need for medical sociology interventions. Social factors of AIDS Prostitution Medical sociology has been on the forefront in providing the social information about the disease. In Nigeria, the quality of life is lowered by the burden brought about by the disease. Nigeria is ranked third in terms of AIDS prevalence in Africa. The most vulnerable people in the society in Nigeria are the people living in the rural areas and the women. Prostitution is a social problem in the society and it contributes to the spread of the disease. It also increases the risks of contracting the disease. In Nigeria, most young women who are unemployed engage in prostitution in order to earn a living. Some do not use protection when engaging in sexual intercourse with their clients and hence leading to infections and transmission. Sociology plays an essential role in identifying such risk factors and how it can be incorporated in the prevention and management efforts (Gilbert, 2013). The economic situation in the country has contributed towards social problems such as prostitution and hence posing a risk to thousands of people in the society. Sociology information is used by the healthcare workers to provide advice to the local women who are engaged in prostitution. This is aimed preventing the spread of the disease. The use of condoms is usually encouraged among the prostitutes for the purposes of preventing the spread. This action is usually taken although prostitution is illegal in the country. The medical sociology intervention has contributed to reduction in new infections in the country. Cultural practices Female genital mutilation is a social factor regarding the culture of the people that exposes women to risks of contracting the disease. This is a cultural practice that is usually carried out in Nigeria as a rite of passage among the women. During the practice, one knife, surgical blade or razorblade is usually used for carrying out the process among a group of girls. This increases the risks of infections through blood contact. The concepts of medical sociology have thus been used to discourage the entire practice due to its associated risk factors. Although the practice still continues, sharing of the same blade has been stopped due to the education and information provided. The identification of the cultural practices that increases the risks among the community members has formed the basis for combating the disease by the healthcare workers. The prevalence rate of the disease is also high among the people who are socially disadvantaged. This is an indication that poverty has negative impacts on the fight against the disease. The activities that are performed by most of the poor people in the society put them at risk of contracting the disease (Bajos, et al, 2014). Drug abuse is common phenomenon among the poor communities in Nigeria. The process of injecting drugs exposes the users to risks due to sharing of needles. The influence of drugs makes it difficult for the users to engage in protective activities like use of condoms. Dealing with the community in Nigeria therefore require a lot of understanding of the risk factors as it may negatively influence the prevention and management process. Marriage is an important cultural factor among the community members in Nigeria. This means that a high number of people have to be married. Most people will always remarry after divorce or death of their spouses. Having children is also an important aspect of the culture and it is directly linked to the marriages. The process of remarrying exposes the people involved to risks as some of the people who remarry have already been infected after the death of their spouses. This information is therefore useful to the healthcare workers when developing prevention and management plan. Medical sociology therefore plays a significant role in establishing the factors that impacts negatively on the health of the people or exposes them to risks (Gilbert, 2013). Gender issues In terms of gender, the number of women who are infected by the disease is much higher compared to that of men. This is due to the risk factors involving the women. The reduction of the AIDS infection rates therefore requires a lot of information to the women. On the other hand, it is also important to note that the reduction in infection rates requires the elimination of the risk factors. Sociology has been playing an active role in creating a better understanding of the risk factors and how the medical professional should handle the situation regarding the risks. Lack of adequate information among the people in Nigeria also impacts negatively on the prevention process. Poverty Poverty and lack of adequate information also impacts negatively on the prevention and management process. In Nigeria, the access to the healthcare facilities and drugs is hindered by poverty. This is because the medical facilities are located in distance areas and this discourages the people to access the healthcare services. On the other hand, it is also important to note that lack of adequate information among the people contributes to stigma. The stigma that is associated with the disease makes it difficult for the people to visit the healthcare facilities to get treated. As a result of the stigma, most of the people do not know their status despite being sexually active. It is also difficult for the medical health professionals to administer the drugs since most of the infected people do not show up. The stigma associated with the disease is therefore a social problem that impacts negatively on combating the diseases. In some countries, the couples are usually required to undergo HIV test but this is not applicable in Nigeria. The concepts of medical sociology are useful in combating the disease and reducing the infection rates. Creation of awareness regarding the diseases is provided based on the information from the medical sociology. However, a lot need to be done in order to reduce the infection rates. The social problems must also be addressed in order to reduce the number of infections (Bennett, et al, 2013). This means that the stakeholders should be involved actively in the process of addressing the social issues. The medical experts alone cannot be able to deal with the epidemic and hence the need for medical sociology. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that AIDS is an epidemic that has led to deaths of millions of people in the world. The social factors contribute to the spread of the disease and hence the importance of medical sociology. It is evident that the cultural practices in Nigeria have contributed to the spread of the disease. Poverty is also a factor that has led to an increase in the infection rates. Poverty contributes to prostitution which in turn leads to an increase in the numbed of new infections. On the other hand, it is evident that combating the disease is affected by the use of injecting drugs among the people in the society. Stigma is an issue in Nigeria that prevents the people from being tested. The input of different stakeholders is thus required in order to successful combat the disease. References Emmanuel, E. A., Joseph, M. H., & John, E. G. (2013). Socio-demographic profile of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Idoma land, Benue state, North-central Nigeria: Implications for HIV/AIDS control. International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 5(5), 153-162. Retrieved on 3 December 2014 from, Other References Gilbert, L., & Walker, L. (2010). ‘My biggest fear was that people would reject me once they knew my status…’ stigma as experienced by patients in an HIV/AIDS clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. Health & social care in the community, 18(2), 139-146. Bennett, L. et al. (2013). AIDS as a gender issue: psychosocial perspectives. Taylor & Francis. Gilbert, L. (2013). ‘Re-Engineering the Workforce to Meet Service Needs’: Exploring ‘Task- Shifting’in South Africa in the Context of Hiv/Aids and Antiretroviral Therapy. South African Review of Sociology, 44(2), 54-75. Bajos, N. et al. (2014). Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe: comparisons of national surveys. Routledge. Read More