Aids and Demographics Jamene Neal
HCS/490

Aids and Demographics Jamene Neal
HCS/490




When it comes to all things regarding the health care industry there is one word that most be considered before any decisions are made, that word is demographic. Well what is a demographic? Well I am glade you asked according to www.dictionary.com the definition of demographic is “ relating to the structure of population, a particular sector of the population.” With the knowledge of knowing what a demographic is one is able to study the role that demographics play in all things regarding the health care industry. One demographic that has a significant impact on the health care industry is those populations suffering from Aids. Throughout the duration of this paper patients suffering from Aids will be the focus of study. In order to study the demographic that is patients suffering from Aids it is important to know what Aids is. Aids stands for acquired immune defency syndrome. People are generally diagnosed with Aids when the immune system is too weak to fight off infection. It is important to know that the cause of Aids is HIV. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, thus causing the body to become weaker, and more venerable to infection. It can typically take up to ten years before a person is said to have full blown Aids. According to www.avert.org there are “ currently over one million people living with Aids in America.” Over the years the demographics of the disease has changed, in the early years of the disease of the disease the disease was prevalent in certain groups such as gays and intervenes drug users. However over the years that has changed while the disease still can affect anyone now days African Americans account for forty percent of all Aids related deaths. Blacks and Latinos are greatly affected by the disease. Another factor that affects the demographic is geographical location. Currently in America the southern states have a higher proportion of their community living with Aids than any other geographical location in America. This all due to several factor social economics, health care and state laws. Within the Sothern states the black/Latino communities are the populations that have a high rate of patients living with Aids. Now that we have discussed information pertaining to the demographic of Patients living with Aids lets now move on to discuss how this demographic and the changes occurring within the demographic affect health care. When it comes to demographics and the impact that they have on the health care industry it is important to realize that changes within each demographics will also impact the health care market. All and all the general impact that demographics have on the health care market is that each demographic is responsible for the overall cost of health care. Whenever there are changes within a particular demographic it will affect the cost of health care for that population as well as the cost for other population not represented by that demographic. Demographics also impact the type of health care received. There are certain demographics that require more or less of a certain type of health care, for example age is a demographic will if you marginalized the demographic down to the older population you will see more patient within that demographic use home healthcare. This is also true for the demographic that is patients living with Aids. Changes within in this demographic will have an impact on booth treatment options as well as cost. Changes will also impact funds allocated for research on the disease as well as finding a cure. Now lets move on to discuss what types of health care related challenges this group faces as well as what impact chronic disease wellness programs on this demographic. Aids is considered a chronic disease, this means that the disease is long lasting or recurring. What that being said those who suffer from this disease will face some challenges that are unique to this disease alone. One of those challenges will be having a difficult time getting health care insurances. There are some health care insurance agency that classify having Aids as having a pre existing condition. Now recently there has been plenty of new legislation that prevents health care insures from denying patients of coverage because of pre existing illness, however there is so much controversy surrounding that legislation that patients may sill have a difficult time finding coverage. Another challenge that affects those living with Aids is finding a treatment option that may best for the patient. This can be a very grueling and exhausting process. Since Aids is a chronic disease, this means that the disease is long lasting and recurring, patients are able to utilize chronic disease wellness programs. While theses programs are a great resource for patients living with Aids they can affect the cost of the patient’s health care. There are some programs that can help patients that need these programs financially, however in order to qualify for those types of programs patients must meet certain criteria. Also now days there are more treatment options for patients living with Aids thus causing them to live longer which in turn causes them to utilize more services. This can affect the cost of there health care drastically generally overtime using wellness program can become costly. In general while initially the program may be inexpensive using the program for long amount time eventually become costly. Also there are some programs that are expensive from the start. Now that demographic has been discussed as well as factors that affect the population in this demographics lets look at the marketing and service needs of this population. After looking at the demographics of population living with Aids is pretty clear what marketing and services are needed. It clear that there needs to be a lot of marketing resources in the southern states with the emphasis on black and Latino communities. Also there still needs to be marketing aimed at homosexual communities. Services in these communities need to education based services that educate the community on how to avoid contracting HIV. There also needs to be more sex education within those communities. Lastly If possible marketing can be used to help influence legislation in those states that have high population living with HIV, legislation that will help those populations. It is important for everyone in the community to get involved. One way that everyone can do is try not holding any prejudice against those living with the illness. This will help slowly erode the stigma of Aids. Next Patients living with the illness need to be vigilant about getting proper information bout the disease out to the public. Education is very important in the reduction of the spread of the disease. Society as whole needs to keep the pressure on government for funding so that medical personal can keep looking for a cure.
In conclusion while Aids can affect anyone demographically communities with the highest populations living with Aids are located in the south. This is a demographic that is can affect the cost of health care as well as the type of health care received. Part of the reason why this demographic is higher in southern states is because of the lack of quality health care presented in those states. This demographic can be reduced with education, however this will take a lot of work from individuals living with the illness, communities, and society as a whole.

References www.dictionary.com www.avert.org/america.htm