There was no paper due this week, so it was not as hectic. I reflected back on the previous weeks and spoke with my friends about what I have learned so far. I liked QOTW #8, because it made me have to put myself in a situation in order to help my family. No matter what I would always try to do what's best for my family.
Today I went to the salon and my stylist told me that I need to watch Oprah today. She told me it was about women who became HIV positive from the same man and he did this intentionally. A few ladies and I were in the salon talking and I told her about this course. One lady said that these are grown women on Oprah who should have been more knowledgeable about HIV. I watched it and was disgusted. Five women were on the panel and discussed what life is like after being infected with HIV from a man who did this as revenge. This man was convicted for knowing his HIV status and not disclosing it to his sex partners until after they had sex. He is spending time in jail. It is such a shame how heartless this man was. I cannot understand for the life of me how people can knowingly spread HIV, because they want others to feel the same way they do. Instead they should put their disease to use in a positive way, by making a difference in their community. I admire Jeromy for finding his significant other on a website where they immediately knew each other’s HIV positive status. Now it is not just the guy’s fault, because these women should have been more careful. How soon are people having unprotected sex when they meet someone? If a person is that quick to have sex with you, wouldn’t it make you think that they are doing it with a lot of other people. The more sex partners a person has, the higher their chances of contracting the disease. I have to emphasize prevention, because this is the only way to ensure that the numbers of HIV positive individuals does not continue to drastically increase. I am glad that this course has opened up my eyes.
Did You Know?
Among youths more HIV diagnoses were received by females than by males. On the other hand when it comes to young adults more HIV diagnoses were received by males than females (CDC, 2007). In my opinion I think that this may be due to the fact that a lot of the female youths are having sex with older men and for this reason that are contracting the disease at a higher rate. The National Youth Risk Behavior Survey was developed to monitor health risk behaviors among adolescents and young adults. The CDC has designed an HIV Prevention Strategic Plan Through 2010 which was implemented in order to reach various groups who are HIV positive or at risk. Poverty, discrimination, historical and cultural factors all play a major role in addressing HIV (CDC, 2007). This plan has established more prevention programs and expanded investment in HIV prevention in the United States (CDC, 2007). I believe that this is a perfect way to spread awareness among adolescents and young adults out in the community. The HIV Prevention Strategic Plan emphasis the need for knowledge of your status (CDC, 2007). This educates adolescents and encourages them to go get tested. They can go to a free clinic where they have professional counselors who can answer all of their questions. Having sex without knowing all the facts is having a terrible effect on adolescents and young adults today! Prevention is a must!
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I did not know about the Oprah show! That is absolutely repulsive! I knew about that law but had not heard of a case that it actually happened and the person was put in jail. Spreading HIV knowingly, especially out of revenge, is a crime. I'm glad to see that it is really being addressed!
ReplyDeleteMaybe once someone is diagnosed with HIV they should be mandated by the state to attend mental health counselling for such things like anger management. This guy probably felt that his life was ripped from him and set on the course to fuel his rage. I am by no way approving of that, but it is a harsh reality to find out you are HIV positive. I wonder if there are more women that get diagnosed because maybe men just are not being tested as much?
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad that there was no paper due this week either and I definitely feel stress free this week. I also like QOTW#8 because it really made think and reflect in my own emotional ways and tested me to see if I was willing to be unselfish and I succeeded. I hate that guy that you heard about in Oprah because I also feel disgusted that he would purposely infect women out of revenge. He is a sick SOB and I hope he hates livin jail as these women will with living with HIV. No one should so something like that to another person because it is a so cruel and inhumane. If I was these women I would want to do something that I cannot say because it is also not right to do but he deserves it.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is some truth to your statement that youn women are having sex with older males. The older males may or may not know they are infected with HIV but in either case the younger women are probably nieve about STD's and do not think that the man they are going to sleep with could possibly have an STD. I might be going out on a limb there but I think there has to be some truth to it from reading the statistical data you said about infection rates. As far as your post about the man purposly infecting women I cant comment on that right now. Reason being is I would end up writing about 3 pages worth about how disgusted I am.
ReplyDeleteNice Article...
ReplyDeleteI agree with nix that if a person is finding himself as HIV positive then he should be mandated by the state to attend mental health counselling for such things like anger management.
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