Public Health Organizations
Difference between risk factors and determinants
A risk factor is defined as any exposure, characteristic, or attribute of a person that increases the chance of him or her developing a specific injury or disease. Risk factors point out personal things that the patient may or may not do directly to increase their chances of developing a certain disease. On the other hand, determinants refer to aspects that determine the health status of a person. It may include inborn and personal features, culture, socioeconomic status, educational attainment, environment, childhood development, government policy, access to care, and health behaviors. Determinants are beyond a patient’s control since it is mostly determined by the situation or environment the patient lives.
Risk factors of HIV/AIDS
Sharing of contaminated syringes, needles, and other sharp objects
Engaging in unprotected sexual activities
Blood transfusion from an infected person
Determinants of HIV/AIDS
Economic instability
Abuse of drugs
Social and environmental factors
Public health strategies necessary to improve health outcomes of HIV/AIDS
There are various strategies that have been put in place to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and also to improve the health of those already suffering from the disease.
HIV testing is one strategy where people are advised to consider testing themselves. This will help them take caution if they are not infected with the disease. For infected people, testing helps them receive the recommended medication for their good health. Infected people will also learn ways of ensuring that they do not transmit the virus to other uninfected people by being educated on engaging in protected activities.
Mass media campaigns are another strategy conducted by public health to improve the health status of people. Through the campaigns, people are informed about ways of preventing themselves from contracting HIV/AIDS. They are also informed about the importance of using the required medication for good health. The campaigns are a good way of making sure that the information has reached all the populations.
Providing education to the public is another approach that improves health outcomes. Many of the people who have HIV/AIDS are from poor communities. These people do not access education, and therefore they are not aware of what causes the disease and how they need to protect themselves. Provision of education hence helps them understand ways they can prevent themselves from contracting the disease and how they should live with the disease.
Discouraging the abuse of drugs is another strategy. When people engage in abusing drugs, they tend to misbehave and engage in unprotected sexual activities, dangerous to their health. They also tend to share needles and other objects when they share injected themselves with the drugs. Therefore, when people learn about the dangers of abusing drugs, they will prevent themselves from contracting HIV/AIDS.
Access to health care is the final strategy. Many people suffer and die from HIV/AIDS due to the lack of health care facilities and poverty. Therefore, when health care is provided to them, they are able to improve their health status by receiving the required medication. They will also be able to test themselves and take the required precautions to prevent themselves from getting the disease.