Population Health Concern Case Study and Policy Addendum Paper

Paterson, NJ

James S. Dowling

NUR 5701 Professor Sarah Valentine

August 5th, 2014
The Paterson, New Jersey population health issue of my concern is if satisfactory health education and promotion efforts on preventing chronic disease. “Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. AIDS is a disease of the immune system which progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system” (NJDH). The health issue of HIV disease amongst the cities population of females and males aged 15-44 years; by race/ethnicity will be my focus point to discuss. This health issue of HIV/AIDS I chose to discuss in correlation to The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) report that identified this high priority health issue. “Today, the CHIPs have given rise to community action teams that have formed around a number of the priority issues and have begun to develop goals, objectives, and activities targeting improvements for the identified priority health issues” (New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Division of Public Health Infrastructure, Laboratories, & Emergency Preparedness Office of Local Public Health, 2006). My involvement in this policy action addendum targets the specific population group in Paterson previously stated. The age population of 14-55 years is very specific to this health concern because of highest rate of sexually active individuals. Discussion of mode transmission of this disease will be discussed later in the report; the most fundamental fact of disease transmission by bodily fluids. Community and individual primary preventative factors for this disease include reduction of exposure to human bodily fluids. “Prevention measures include being tested regularly for HIV, having protected sex, and using precautionary barriers when exposed to blood borne pathogens. In addition, health education has increased knowledge of risky sexual and drug related behaviors” (New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Division of Public Health Infrastructure, Laboratories, & Emergency Preparedness Office of Local Public Health, 2006). The consequences of HIV on Paterson’s population if not effectively intervened will further spread and ultimately cause increase in mortality rates. The city of Paterson is a diverse urban population in New Jersey. The demographic data of Paterson’s population in 2012 145,219; males 69,725 (48%); females 75,494 (52%). Paterson’s median resident age is 32.2 years compared with New Jersey’s median age of 38.5. Paterson residents estimated median household yearly income was $32,416 compared to residents in the state of New Jersey was $69,667. Paterson’s population below poverty in 2004 was 22.2%. HIV impacting the Paterson community demonstrates a strong racial and ethnic component. (New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Division of Public Health Infrastructure, Laboratories, & Emergency Preparedness Office of Local Public Health, 2006). “CDC estimates that 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV—and nearly one in six of those are unaware of their infection” (Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 2013). The infected population of this three decade epidemic has gradually decreased as well as declines in mortality rates through advancing medical technologies and education. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is survived solely through the individuals of a population. The new infection rate controlled factor is the compliance rate of the individual’s of the population. “In the United States, HIV is spread mainly by; Having sex with someone who has HIV. In general; Anal sex is the highest-risk sexual behavior. Receptive anal sex (bottoming) is riskier than insertive anal sex (topping); Vaginal sex is the second highest-risk sexual behavior. Having multiple sex partners or having other sexually transmitted infections can increase the