Time to Use our
Brains: a look at HIV/Aids with Hans Rosling
HIV/AIDS has been on the forefront of Global Health agenda
for many years and with any diseases has come with an abundance of assumptions
and stereotypes even when looking at the data.
Hans Rosling has a TED talk (posted in the reference link
below) that I highly suggest a watch as it shines a light on some of these
assumptions and stereotypes with regards to HIV/AIDS. In it, he provides
evidenced-based arguments that suggest that for many years, the disease has
been looked at with several predetermined notions including the fact that those
in greater poverty lead to a greater risk of the disease, and that the content
of Africa has a higher rate of the disease than anywhere in the World. However,
Rosling shows that geographically speaking, countries such as Tanzania this is
untrue where higher income groups have a higher rate of HIV/AIDS. Senegal,
having the same rate of the disease as the US and that Africa as a whole is as
low as the rest of the world. So, what is going on?
This class has certainly taught me to examine global health
issues and all that surround the concept. There is a need to analyze the
sociocultural factors from every angle, even extensive questioning using the
Extended Empathy Narrative theory. The current state of HIV/AIDS in Eastern
Africa is a product of evolution of sociocultural constructs. In Tanzania,
where higher income groups have the highest rate of HIV/AIDS challenges the
notion that lower poverty leads to lower health; as public health
professionals, there is a need to challenge such notions to examine any
situation. Many African countries have a socially and culturally acceptable ideologies
of having multiple partners, including tribal communities who marry and have
relations with more than one woman. Also, having a higher income leads
acquiring greater social status and becoming a more attractive partner. Are
there any more sociocultural factors that come into play here for the case of
Tanzania?
Another assumption challenged by HIV/AIDS disease is that
greater access elicits positive health behaviors; however, human beings are not
always rational. Another TED talk by Elizabeth Pisani (link in reference below)
shows that in the case of the disease in Indonesia, although many were aware of
the disease, ways in which it can be transmitted, as well as access to free
preventative measures, they simply didn’t take the precautions. Transmission
through needles with illicit drug users was high and sometimes, all they wanted
was to satisfy the addiction without thinking of the consequences. In this case, I believe that to slow down
the rate of transmission, there is a need to treat the underlying causes of
drug addiction! Whether it be psychological treatments for depression, utilizing
the extended empathy narrative, and treating the other causes of drug
addiction, will HIV/AIDS be slowed down in such instances. Analysis carried out
as a sequence of events is needed in such situations to provide solutions to
such global health problems.
As Hans Rosling states, HIV/AIDS is not necessarily higher
in one country or another, it is simply “very
different”. As such, global health professionals need to think differently in carrying out intervention
programs. What are your thoughts on underlying causes of addictions that can
relate to HIV/AIDS transmission? What ways can we treat those addictions in
order to effectively combat the issue?
Reference:
Hans Rosling:
Elizabeth Pisani:
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