So I'm 3 weeks into the fall semester and already I have so many questions. These questions are the product of the HIV class im taking. After starting the module on statistics I was shocked. Putting everything into numbers makes it scarier! I knew that HIV/AIDS was definitely an issue but I can honestly say I didn't realize how prevalent it was.
Also, after reading some of the other blogs of my classmates, some interesting points of view came into mind. One of the main questions I have is why aren't we more aware? By we I mean the youth and the American public. I'm sure many people would be just as shocked as I was when I read all the different statistics about HIV and AIDS. On television there are so many ads and public service announcements but when I think about it I can only recall one that was on the topic of getting tested for HIV. I've seen announcements about saving starving children and donating to animal rescue foundations and preventing drunk driving but only one about HIV. I don't understand why there aren't more outlets for fostering awareness. Maybe I am just not looking and maybe I have overlooked these messages but with so many other issues brought to attention, shouldn't HIV/AIDS awareness be at the top of that list? I think sometimes people see only what they want to see and if something is not affecting them they they ignore it. I admit I am guilty of it. I feel like if everyone were exposed to the information I am being taught it would make a huge difference.
Did You Know?
There are more women in prison infected with HIV than men. Specifically, HIV infection in incacerated women are about two times higher than the rate of HIV infected incarcerated men. The HIV infection rate of incarcerated women are also 35 times higher than HIV infection in non-incarcerated women. I contintue to be shocked by the many statistics I come across and I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot more that surprise me!
Sources: Education Prison Project: http://www.idcronline.org/archives/june99/index.html
Do we know why that is? Just seems very sad to me that the percentage is so high, also while in prison do they give the HIV positive inmates medicine?
ReplyDeleteThat is very interesting. My did you know section is actually on HIV in men in prisons. I had no idea that HIV in women would be so much higher than men. This is very shocking to me and I very interested in finding out much more on this topic in your later posts. Happy blogging :)
ReplyDeleteYou are not seeing advertisements about HIV because many believe it is now a medically manageable disease and doesn't need to be talked about as frequently.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice for you to research why women have more infections than men in prison and why incarcerated women are so much higher than non incarcerated women. It is the why that interests me.
Would like to see some pictures and videos on your blog in the future, Ashley.