Impacts on Health Status and Behavior

Veronica Rangel
Discussion: 1 Unit 2

Impacts on Health Status and Behavior
Veronica Rangel
Capella University

1981,Identification of AIDS - In 1984, the HIV virus was identified by the Public Health Service and French scientists. In 1985, a blood test to detect HIV was licensed. AIDS was first reported.b1982; FDA received first IND submission for treatment of AIDS. 1984 AIDS identified as being caused by a human retrovirus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).1985, FDA approved first enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kit to screen for antibodies to HIV. 1987.

Did any behavior changes in the population contribute to this change in health status?
Behavioral interventions were observed to substantially reduce HIV risk while remaining cost effective or cost saving for a wide range of populations at high risk. The CDC HIV Prevention Research Synthesis Project has conducted meta-analyses of data from scientifically rigorous intervention trials since 1996.
What interventions were implemented to resolve the problem?
Because there is no cure or vaccine to prevent HIV, the only way people can prevent infection from the virus is to avoid high-risk behaviors putting them at risk of infection, such as having unprotected sex or sharing needles. NIAID urges everyone ages 13 to 64 to get tested for HIV as part of their routine health care. Catching HIV in its early stages can make a lifesaving difference.
Assess how successful they were or were not—what worked and what did not work?
NIAID and other researchers have developed drugs to fight both HIV infection and its associated infections and cancers. In combination with early detection through HIV testing, available HIV therapies can greatly extend years and quality of life, and have resulted in a dramatic decrease in AIDS deaths in the U.S. NIH Research to Results.

Can you think of further interventions that could have helped?
I strongly believed schools should have educated students at an early age. Having prevention about having safe sex among young adult.

What long term changes in public behavior, if any, resulted from this historical event?
The group recommended that macro-level models be incorporated into behavioral interventions targeting African Americans because these models consider environmental factors that affect individuals in society. Further, the group offered numerous specific theories that have been underused, although their direct connection to HIV prevention was not explored and needs further development.