The unit readings and materials focus on the impact of the different forms of poverty on the transmission of HIV. According to the readings, it has been reported that there is a strong association between HIV infection and poverty such that areas which are considered as having low income have been reported to be two times more susceptible to HIV infection as compared to individuals who are not listed below the poverty line. Moreover, low income urban areas have been reported to have higher prevalence than the national average.
I know that poverty is a social determinant of HIV infection. In fact, it is one of the greatest contributors to the growing number of infected individuals. This is due to the fact that other problems may arise due to poverty and lack of financial resources (National Aboriginal Health Organizations). First, poor individuals will do everything to survive which gives them the courage to engage in risky activities. In fact, Fielding-Miller et al. revealed that hunger has been linked as a factor which leads to increased HIV infection. According to studies, hunger was the main reason of Swaziland women who engage in sex work. The strengths of the main points of the issue is the fact that all of the findings are supported by different organizations and statistics of reputable departments. However, the readings seem lacking when it comes to the specific area and nation being described and asses. Also, the interplay of different factors aside from poverty should also be studied. Since poverty may be seen as lack of education or financial incapacity, it is important to point out the real type of poverty involved in the surveys.
Works Cited
Fielding-Miller, R., Mnisi, Z., Adams, D., Baral, S., Kennedy, C. “There is hunger in my community: a qualitative study of food security as a cyclical force in sex work in Swaziland. BMC Public Health 14.79 (2014). Print.
National Aboriginal Health Organizations. Landscapes of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Health: An Environmental Scan of Organizations, Literature and Research, 3rd ed. Prince George, BC: National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health, 2014. Print.
