This is the blog for Ms. Hero's Biology Class at Carlmont High School. Articles related to what we are studying in class will be posted with prompts for student response.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
HIV and AIDS
In yesterday's socratic seminar, many people brought up the point that many people in African countries are too embarrased to be tested to see if they have HIV. There is now an alternative which may help more people get tested. Read the following article: HIV self-test proves accurate; Study in an ER shows individuals successfully determined their own HIV status, by Nathan Seppa. How might this help stop the spread of HIV? Think about what you learned in class and from the socratic seminar.
This method of self testing could help anyone who is going to be sexually active test themselves (and possibly their partners) to see if they are HIV positive. This method is helpful because they can keep it confidential from their family members if necessary. This could then tell them whether or not they can have unprotected sex. If they cannot have sex, then this will stop the spread of the HIV virus.
HIV self tests should always be available to anyone, just like how a pregnancy test is available to any women. These tests should have no cost for anyone with or without proper medical insurance. If someone doesn't know whether if they are HIV positive, then they could be more than welcomed to receive a test for HIV. These test can help stop the spread of AIDS, especially at all around of Africa's different countries, such as Botswana and South Africa. No one should be shy to get a test for HIV because everyone will have to at some point in their lives.
The HIV self tests seem very convenient. Not only are they accurate, but they could be available for use at home. 90% of the people offered the self test accepted to use it, showing that people are willing to undergo the tests. It was convenient for the people waiting at the hospital to perform the self tests because they were just waiting around anyways. The tests are completely confidential and should definitely become available at stores like pregnancy tests are. If people test positive for HIV, doctors can help them keep it at a small scale. If people know that they are HIV positive, they would be less likely to have unprotected sex because they don't want to pass it on to others. These tests would slow the spread of HIV for this reason.
The HIV self tests will most likely prove to be very successful once they are released to the public. People don't have to share the information with anyone they don't want to. I can see how it would be embarrasing to have to have someone else perform the test for you and then feel like you are being criticized by them just because you have HIV, even if it wasn't your fault. These tests could prove to be beneficial in Africa, but a huge part of the problem is that people are even embarrased to tell their partners. In addition to the tests being distributed, education about safe sex and proper communication should be made available as well.
I believe that these self HIV tests would be highly effective. In the article it is stated that more people were willing to take the test if they were doing it themselves. I think that these self tests would be very helpful in Africa. Most people are nervous to tell their husband or wife that they have HIV. They think it is something to look down upon. I think if more people take this self test it will lower the HIV rates even a little bit. Maybe some people will have a second thought about having unprotected sex. But then again maybe they won't but there was a option to. This would most likely attract more people to get tested because they don't have to feel embarrassed if they do have HIV. They can take the test at their house all alone with no one else having to know about it. They can make their own choice either to tell people or not to tell people.
Self testing for is a great way for people to find out if they have HIV if they feel too embarrassed or live too far away to go to a clinic for HIV testing. These tests are especially good news for people who live in Africa, where many doctors lie to their patients over their HIV test results because they do not have the medicine to treat it and of the stigma there about being HIV positive. The self administered test now allows people to receive potentially devastating news in the privacy of their own homes, and do not have to broad cast it to the world through doctor records.
Self testing is an effective way to prevent the spread of HIV. Although HIV testing is available to most people, many are unaware that they could possibly be carrying the deadly virus or are too ashamed to admit they have the virus. Self tests are also effective in third world countries such as Africa because they are easy tests that can be done by anyone who is capable of receiving the test. This relates to what we learned in class because over this past week we continued researching HIV and the effects it has on our population. With self testing I believe that the death tole of AIDS will greatly decrease.
This method could help stop the disease by making it less embarrassing for many people who don't like people knowing they have HIV. Also it is probably cheaper and it could become that of a pregnancy test. This also will be better for sexually active teens because they wont have to go to a clinic and can do it from home. This will decrease the amount of people who get HIV each year.
Using the self-test HIV kit will not only make people more comfortable with getting tested, but it will also allow to find out if you're positive or negative at your convenience. This will help the amount of people with HIV to decrease, though it will not get rid of it. It seems like anyone who can follow simple directions should be able to take the test and if it's cheap and practical, it'll be in the use of many.
Now there is an HIV test that people can do on their own with simple instructions. This way is just as acurate as you would get at the doctors and it is easy to tell if you tested positive or negitive. This could help in africa so much because now they can do this in private with no embarassment. Also finding out that a person is HIV positive earlier is better. So then doctors can treat the patient earlier and extend their life. I think they should start programs that give these kits to African countries with AIDs difficulties.
I think this kit that tests for HIV is very useful especially people who are sexually active. They can carry them around to wherever they go. Some people do not like getting tested by a doctor because they feel embarrassed. Now, you can self-test yourself and see if you test HIV positive. With this kit handy at all times, people can make less trips to the doctor and still feel less embarrassed.
The HIV self-test can help stop the spread of HIV. I gives people the chance to find out wether they have HIV or not. Also have the test availible allows people to have a little more privacy. Also it might compel a person's partner to take the test, too, which also could decrease the spread of HIV. I think these tests should become mandatory yearly when you become sexually active.
These HIV self tests could help a lot with preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS. Although it is not a vaccine or anything to prevent the virus from spreading, it is a way for people to be more open with the idea of having HIV or AIDS. For people who are not comfortable with the idea of having other people know, this is a very convenient method. This could help spread more knowledge of the virus.
The self testing method for HIV will significantly stop it from spreading so rapidly. Since embarrassment is the main issue in Africa, this method would keep results confidential. If a person does turn out to be infected with the virus, than this test makes them aware of it so that they have the choice not to spread it, while at the same time having only themselves aware that they have the disease.
HIV self tests will be especially useful in areas such as Africa where men and women where HIV is considered to be shameful. This will help prevent the further spread of HIV because people will know if they have the disease. The test will help raise awareness and personal responsibility in informing partners.
HIV self tests should be a made as a law for everyone to take so people will get used to having to deal with the testing and also people that have HIV can get help quickly to get rid of the disease. Doing this, will help people be less shy or nervous about being tested for HIV. Also, this method is a very private way of testing and people probably won't be shy about it. This will help stop the spread of HIV because, people will be required to take the test and can prevent or stop the disease from developing if they test early enough.
Self-testing allows possibly infected people see if they are HIV positive. If they know then they can seek further treatment. If they are aware that they are infected then they will know to take some precautions such as safe sex, no sex, not sharing needles, etc. If more people know they have it then they can prevent it better. This method of self-testing will decrease the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS
The HIV self-tests helps stop the spread of HIV. Most people don't realize they have HIV so self-tests are an easy way to keep up to date. The earlier you find out and get treated, the less problematic it will be to other people and yourself. During the seminar, we talked about how to prevent the spread of HIV, and self-testing could be an answer. Also, if one person gets self-tested, then their partner might want to be tested.
Posts
This method of self testing could help anyone who is going to be sexually active test themselves (and possibly their partners) to see if they are HIV positive. This method is helpful because they can keep it confidential from their family members if necessary. This could then tell them whether or not they can have unprotected sex. If they cannot have sex, then this will stop the spread of the HIV virus.
ReplyDeleteHIV self tests should always be available to anyone, just like how a pregnancy test is available to any women. These tests should have no cost for anyone with or without proper medical insurance. If someone doesn't know whether if they are HIV positive, then they could be more than welcomed to receive a test for HIV. These test can help stop the spread of AIDS, especially at all around of Africa's different countries, such as Botswana and South Africa. No one should be shy to get a test for HIV because everyone will have to at some point in their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe HIV self tests seem very convenient. Not only are they accurate, but they could be available for use at home. 90% of the people offered the self test accepted to use it, showing that people are willing to undergo the tests. It was convenient for the people waiting at the hospital to perform the self tests because they were just waiting around anyways. The tests are completely confidential and should definitely become available at stores like pregnancy tests are. If people test positive for HIV, doctors can help them keep it at a small scale. If people know that they are HIV positive, they would be less likely to have unprotected sex because they don't want to pass it on to others. These tests would slow the spread of HIV for this reason.
ReplyDeleteThe HIV self tests will most likely prove to be very successful once they are released to the public. People don't have to share the information with anyone they don't want to. I can see how it would be embarrasing to have to have someone else perform the test for you and then feel like you are being criticized by them just because you have HIV, even if it wasn't your fault. These tests could prove to be beneficial in Africa, but a huge part of the problem is that people are even embarrased to tell their partners. In addition to the tests being distributed, education about safe sex and proper communication should be made available as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe that these self HIV tests would be highly effective. In the article it is stated that more people were willing to take the test if they were doing it themselves. I think that these self tests would be very helpful in Africa. Most people are nervous to tell their husband or wife that they have HIV. They think it is something to look down upon. I think if more people take this self test it will lower the HIV rates even a little bit. Maybe some people will have a second thought about having unprotected sex. But then again maybe they won't but there was a option to. This would most likely attract more people to get tested because they don't have to feel embarrassed if they do have HIV. They can take the test at their house all alone with no one else having to know about it. They can make their own choice either to tell people or not to tell people.
ReplyDeleteSelf testing for is a great way for people to find out if they have HIV if they feel too embarrassed or live too far away to go to a clinic for HIV testing. These tests are especially good news for people who live in Africa, where many doctors lie to their patients over their HIV test results because they do not have the medicine to treat it and of the stigma there about being HIV positive. The self administered test now allows people to receive potentially devastating news in the privacy of their own homes, and do not have to broad cast it to the world through doctor records.
ReplyDeleteSelf testing is an effective way to prevent the spread of HIV. Although HIV testing is available to most people, many are unaware that they could possibly be carrying the deadly virus or are too ashamed to admit they have the virus. Self tests are also effective in third world countries such as Africa because they are easy tests that can be done by anyone who is capable of receiving the test. This relates to what we learned in class because over this past week we continued researching HIV and the effects it has on our population. With self testing I believe that the death tole of AIDS will greatly decrease.
ReplyDeleteThis method could help stop the disease by making it less embarrassing for many people who don't like people knowing they have HIV. Also it is probably cheaper and it could become that of a pregnancy test. This also will be better for sexually active teens because they wont have to go to a clinic and can do it from home. This will decrease the amount of people who get HIV each year.
ReplyDeleteUsing the self-test HIV kit will not only make people more comfortable with getting tested, but it will also allow to find out if you're positive or negative at your convenience. This will help the amount of people with HIV to decrease, though it will not get rid of it. It seems like anyone who can follow simple directions should be able to take the test and if it's cheap and practical, it'll be in the use of many.
ReplyDeleteNow there is an HIV test that people can do on their own with simple instructions. This way is just as acurate as you would get at the doctors and it is easy to tell if you tested positive or negitive. This could help in africa so much because now they can do this in private with no embarassment. Also finding out that a person is HIV positive earlier is better. So then doctors can treat the patient earlier and extend their life. I think they should start programs that give these kits to African countries with AIDs difficulties.
ReplyDeleteI think this kit that tests for HIV is very useful especially people who are sexually active. They can carry them around to wherever they go. Some people do not like getting tested by a doctor because they feel embarrassed. Now, you can self-test yourself and see if you test HIV positive. With this kit handy at all times, people can make less trips to the doctor and still feel less embarrassed.
ReplyDeleteThe HIV self-test can help stop the spread of HIV. I gives people the chance to find out wether they have HIV or not. Also have the test availible allows people to have a little more privacy. Also it might compel a person's partner to take the test, too, which also could decrease the spread of HIV. I think these tests should become mandatory yearly when you become sexually active.
ReplyDeleteThese HIV self tests could help a lot with preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS. Although it is not a vaccine or anything to prevent the virus from spreading, it is a way for people to be more open with the idea of having HIV or AIDS. For people who are not comfortable with the idea of having other people know, this is a very convenient method. This could help spread more knowledge of the virus.
ReplyDeleteThe self testing method for HIV will significantly stop it from spreading so rapidly. Since embarrassment is the main issue in Africa, this method would keep results confidential. If a person does turn out to be infected with the virus, than this test makes them aware of it so that they have the choice not to spread it, while at the same time having only themselves aware that they have the disease.
ReplyDeleteHIV self tests will be especially useful in areas such as Africa where men and women where HIV is considered to be shameful. This will help prevent the further spread of HIV because people will know if they have the disease. The test will help raise awareness and personal responsibility in informing partners.
ReplyDeleteHIV self tests should be a made as a law for everyone to take so people will get used to having to deal with the testing and also people that have HIV can get help quickly to get rid of the disease. Doing this, will help people be less shy or nervous about being tested for HIV. Also, this method is a very private way of testing and people probably won't be shy about it. This will help stop the spread of HIV because, people will be required to take the test and can prevent or stop the disease from developing if they test early enough.
ReplyDeleteSelf-testing allows possibly infected people see if they are HIV positive. If they know then they can seek further treatment. If they are aware that they are infected then they will know to take some precautions such as safe sex, no sex, not sharing needles, etc. If more people know they have it then they can prevent it better. This method of self-testing will decrease the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS
ReplyDeleteThe HIV self-tests helps stop the spread of HIV. Most people don't realize they have HIV so self-tests are an easy way to keep up to date. The earlier you find out and get treated, the less problematic it will be to other people and yourself. During the seminar, we talked about how to prevent the spread of HIV, and self-testing could be an answer. Also, if one person gets self-tested, then their partner might want to be tested.
ReplyDelete