STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

     The goals of this project are to investigate HIV cases in the region in which the Southwest Missouri area and to advocate for better education within public schools and the public as a whole about the basic information and dangers surrounding HIV as a virus. We are also seeking to identify populations that are at high risk for contracting a HIV infection. This blog also aims to educate the public about the need to be tested and where they can go to get tested for HIV.

     The purpose of our blog, Op-ed, and flyer is to make the public aware of the dangers of HIV and AIDS and how to prevent an infection. Specifically, we are also advocating for better education about HIV in public schools that targets middle and high schoolers. The entire community needs more awareness about HIV risks, as seen by this region’s high rates of HIV and AIDS. However, our group is placing emphasis on education in public schools because we have found the millennial generation is contracting higher rates of HIV. Our hope is that by providing better education to adolescents before they are sexually active that the rates of HIV for the state of Missouri will lower in the coming years.

     Although there are not any campus organizations that promote HIV awareness and prevention on the Missouri State campus, one could be formed to promote awareness and education regarding HIV and AIDS. This group could be used to teach students about what HIV is, their risk of contracting HIV, and where to get tested. An organization of this nature would also provide support and resources to students, faculty, and staff affected by HIV and AIDS. This group would could also collaborate with other local HIV awareness organizations, such as AIDS Project of the Ozarks. AIDS Project of the Ozarks (APO) has some events throughout the year to raise money for their organization, which educates our community and provides support to those affected by HIV and AIDS. To support AIDS Project of the Ozarks, we could volunteer, donate, or participate in APO’s fundraising events. Some of these events include the Ozarks Red Ribbon Ride and the AIDS Walk. Participation fees and donations for these events go to fund APO. An on-campus organization could also register Missouri State students for these events. This would raise awareness about APO and contribute to their funding.

     Our strategies in developing materials for our portfolio are to include information that will educate individuals of all backgrounds and education levels in a way that is relevant to them. We included practical information on how to get tested for HIV and the testing sites in Springfield. With these two main goals, we developed several blog posts to expand on these ideas. To begin, we created posts that simply explain the science behind HIV and AIDS. A couple posts focus on the at-risk people groups and activities that increase one’s risk of contracting HIV. There are also posts dedicated to the testing of HIV, including how to test and where to get tested. One post was developed to explain some of the treatment options available to those who test positive for HIV. We chose to include some of the stigmas associated with HIV and AIDS in hopes that by addressing the stereotypes and myths, that this blog will spread truth about the facts of HIV. Our flyer is specifically advocating for the community to get tested for HIV.

     As a result of this project, we hope to see greater awareness in the Southwest Missouri region regarding the HIV. We would like this project to help our community identify their risk factors and encourage testing for HIV.



http://southwestmohivawareness.blogspot.com/

What is HIV?

     Since the 1980’s in the United States, HIV has been an epidemic. Since the beginning of the spread of the disease, numbers have decreased with awareness and upcoming treatments but people still are contracting and dying from AIDS. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 8 Americans are unaware they are living with HIV, which accounts for one-third of the HIV transmissions in the United States. With better access to treatment, testing, and education the numbers would reduce.  

     But what is HIV and how do you get it? HIV stands for the human immunodeficiency virus and there are two types. The first type is HIV-1 which is the most common and the type we have here in the United States. Type two is HIV-2 which is found in Western Africa with some cases in India and Europe. If left untreated, HIV then develops into AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), but there are many treatments that can assist those living with HIV to live a normal healthy life. That does not mean that those people treated for HIV cannot pass the disease on.

     HIV is rarely, if ever transmitted through blood transfusions and organ/tissue transplants here in the U.S. due to safety procedures in place. The best way to protect yourself from HIV is to use protection when engaging in intercourse and getting tested regularly for HIV and other STD’s. There is an option available for those who are at a higher risk for HIV called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). It is a pill that is taken every day and works by not allowing the virus to take ahold of your cells, preventing HIV to manifest.

     In the end, HIV is preventable. Keep yourself healthy, educated, and protected to avoid HIV, but if you do happen to have HIV transmitted to you go to your doctor right away for treatment to continue living a normal healthy life.

     To Learn More About HIV, Visit Avert.org or AIDS.gov For More Information

The Science Behind HIV

     HIV is a type of virus called the retrovirus; this means that it carries RNA but carries an enzyme that allows it to unwind DNA from another cell and integrate its RNA to the unwound DNA. It is found in human blood, sexual fluids and breast milk of a person living with HIV. The fluids then, containing HIV, are transmitted commonly through mucous membranes. Mucous membranes are the soft tissues that provide less effective barriers to infection. Mucous membranes are on the inside of sexual organs, inside of the mouth, and other various areas. When there are then tears or bleeding in these soft tissues (which are invisible to the naked eye typically) which makes it easier for HIV to enter the bloodstream. Sores on the soft tissues also makes it easier for HIV to be transmitted. Sores can be from other sexually transmitted diseases.

               

     After HIV is transmitted, the virus begins to attack and destroy the CD4 cells in the immune system. The CD4 cells are also known as the T-helper cells which are a type of white blood cell which is very important for the immune system. The virus then inserts its RNA, which is comparable to our genetic makeup but only one strand instead of two, into the white blood cells causing the white blood cell to replicate infected HIV cells over and over.

           
     To treat these infected CD4 cells and to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to others, antiretroviral therapy (ART) was created. ART is used to prevent the virus from continuing to multiply. It does not eradicate the virus from the immune system, but it gives the body the opportunity to recover and fight off infections. The HIV medicines are grouped into six different drug classes and they all fight differently. The treatments are individualized for each person living with HIV, combining any of the six drug classes together for a regimen to bring the person back to good health.
     To Learn More About HIV, Visit Avert.org or AIDS.gov For More Information

Demographics

     According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, The majority of those living with HIV or AIDS are between the ages of 25 and 64 years of age. There were a total of 41 people in the southwest Missouri region that were diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in 2014. In the southwest Missouri region, there are 459 people who are known to be living with HIV or AIDS. This does not include the number of positive cases diagnosed in the four anonymous testing centers in Missouri. Of the total region of HIV care, 50% of total cases live in Greene country.  

     In the state of Missouri, there are 5,704 known cases of HIV and 6,280 cases of AIDS. HIV is most prevalent between the ages of 19 and 64. As seen by the chart below, there has been a significant increase in new HIV cases by the millennial generation since 2005. Although there are cases of HIV in all races throughout Missouri, in the Kansas City and St. Louis care regions, there is a higher rate of HIV cases among the black/African American population than with any other race. In the St. Louis area, the population is 46.6% white and 47.5% black/African American. However, for this area there are 51 cases of HIV among the white population and 120 cases among the black/African American population. There are more than double the cases of HIV among the black/African American population compared to the white population, despite having similar populations in the St. Louis area. A similar situation is found in the Kansas City area. Despite the fact that the population is 60% white and 30% black/African American, there are more cases of HIV found among the black/African American population (40 cases) than the white population (34 cases). For all other regions of Missouri, the most cases were white, followed by the black/African-American population and then the Hispanic population. There is clearly a racial aspect that needs to be taken into consideration when evaluating HIV statistics for this region, given that African Americans seem to have more HIV cases than the white population.

     Of the 357 cases of newly diagnosed cases in the state of Missouri, all individuals contracted HIV from drug injection, sex between male homosexuals, and heterosexual sex. Of these causes of infection, 75% were from sex between male homosexuals, 17% were from heterosexual sex, 3% were from drug use, and 5% were from male homosexuals who inject drugs. It is clear from these statistics that sexual contact is the main source of transmission of HIV. While the majority of the HIV cases were specifically from male homosexual sex, it is important to note that almost 1 in 5 cases were contracted from heterosexual transmission. While drug use does contribute to the spread of HIV, it is in the minority compared to HIV as a sexually transmitted disease.

     From the above information, we can see that there are defined populations that seem to be more at risk and some activities that are more likely to spread HIV than others. The demographic information and the transmission of HIV in the state of Missouri need to be analyzed and evaluated to determine the best course of action to stop the spread of HIV in our state. 

AIDS Project of the Ozarks

   AIDS Project of the Ozarks (APO) is a local AIDS advocacy agency serving the Southwest Missouri area. Founded in 1983, this organization provides emergency client assistance; confidential counseling and testing services; case management for clients, primary medical care; specialty medical care; mental health and substance abuse services; dental care; nutritional counseling; and adherence services for the community. They perform HIV testing for approximately 700 people each year and provided HIV/AIDS prevention resources to 10,000 people. They continue to support about 600 individuals every year who have tested positively for HIV in the Southwest Missouri region.
     If you are interested in the services provided by APO, you call to schedule an appointment at 417-881-1900. APO also has walk-on hours for confidential testing from 9am-noon and 1-3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. They are located at 1901 E Bennett, Suite D, Springfield, MO 65804. There is also a branch of APO located in downtown Springfield that provides HIV testing on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-11pm.
     There are many ways to get involved with APO. This agency participates in several awareness events in the Springfield area. The 13th Annual Ozarks Red Ribbon Ride will be held on May 31 to raise money for AIDS Project of the Ozarks. This event will take participants down a 7 mile, 30 mile, or 50 mile bicycle path, with an after party held at Galloway Station Bar and Grill. To register for this event, please go to http://www.ozarksredribbonride.org/. APO will also hold the 23rd Annual AIDS Walk on October 1 at Phelps Grove Park. More information is to come as the event approaches.
     For more information about AIDS Project of the Ozarks, please visit http://www.apo-ozarks.org

Latest Advances In Prevention

     One of the newest treatments for HIV prevention are Microbicides. These are pre- exposure prophylaxis or (PrEP). To understand how they work it is necessary to explain a little what the HIV virus is: It is a retrovirus, this means it varies a single strand of RNA in its genetic material, instead of the double strand of DNA that humans carry.
     A retrovirus has an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which allows it to copy RNA into DNA, using the DNA “Copy” to infect human host cells. The virus uses the host cell’s machinery to replicate itself using a process called (Reverse transcription) the new copies of HIV move on to infect other cells.
     ARV or antiretroviral drugs offer protection against HIV. The microbicides work by targeting HIV at different levels in the life cycle of the virus.
     First by cell fusion; this prevents the virus from entering the human cell.
     Reverse transcription; the copying of viral RNA into DNA, blocking the virus from integrating with the human cell or making copies of itself.
     These microbicides are relatively easy to use, they come in a vaginal rings, that can be inserted by hand, tablets and film.

HIV Education In Schools

     In 2013 a survey asked high school students here in the U.S. how many of them have had sex and how many of them had ever been tested for HIV. Out of the 47% of high school students that had sex, only 13% had ever been tested for HIV. From the ages of 13-24, nearly 10,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2013. It is not just HIV that is growing among adolescents, but half of the 20 million STD infections every year is from the ages of 15-24.
     So what can we do to prevent the spread of HIV and other STD’s among the adolescent population? Well implementing sex education into school only helps reduce sexual risk behaviors according to research. The CDC stated that if HIV testing was part of routine health care for ages 13-64, the new cases of HIV and STD’s would significantly reduce. To make this possible, schools can continue education in the classroom about HIV and other STD’s, promote communication between the students and the parents, educating students on where to go for testing and treatment, as well as providing on-site testing for HIV and STD’s for students.
     In Missouri Public Schools, they receive a grant from the CDC each year for education and prevention programs for HIV and STD’s. Every couple years, the school districts in Missouri take a survey of their students to understand how to better their sexual education classes. With the results, they see what the necessary steps are to take for the growing sexually active adolescent population.
     To Learn More About HIV in Schools, Visit dese.mo.gov or cdc.gov For More Information