Follow prompt apply it to nursing

Community Assessment for Population with HIV in Los Angeles County Student’s Name Professor’s Name Institutional Affiliations Course Name and Number Due Date Community Assessment for Population with HIV in Los Angeles County Introduction Healthcare providers have maintained strategies to curb HIV infections in the United States as a mechanism of ensuring the national prevalence rates remain in control. Guilamo-Ramos et al. (2021) indicate that nurses have established themselves as critical frontline players, although combating this health issue requires concerted efforts from multidisciplinary teams in health facilities. The authors note that proactive measures have become fundamental, considering that over 38 million individuals suffer from this illness worldwide, and over 7 million are unaware. As a result, nurses have become fundamental in advancing HIV preventative and management programs globally. In the U.S., they are primary players in the federal plan of Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE), seeking to diminish HIV infections by approximately 75% and 90% by 2025 and 2030 (Ferrer et al., 2023). Their understanding of the HIV infection dynamics and vulnerable groups would enable areas such as Los Angeles County to optimize strategies to their regional contexts. Community Assessment Purpose and Methods for Information Collection Purpose HIV prevalence in the United have remained relatively contained for decades. Kaniuka et al. (2021) state that only about 1.2 million Americans have contracted this disease in the nation. The authors also reveal that 62% of HIV-positive persons are within the vulnerable groups of gay and bisexual men (Kaniuka et al., 2021). Regional HIV prevalence variations are a reality in the United States, with some areas presenting higher rates than others. A report by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) (2024) revealed that California’s diagnosed cases had increased by 3.7% between 2018 and 2022 to about 142,700 individuals. Such statistics illustrate that HIV remains a significant public health issue due to the associated pressures on the healthcare systems and the county’s finances. Assessing HIV in Los Angeles, California, is critical for understanding the milestones achieved by the stakeholders considering the programs targeting susceptible groups in the area. According to Ferrer et al. (2023), the area has received significant support from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to combat this issue. The authors add that Los Angeles County has benefited from HIV care and prevention programs expansion funding as one of the 57 high-burden zones in the country. The primary goal of these initiatives is accelerating HIV management and new infection prevention enshrined in the EHE plan (Ferrel et al., 2023). As a result, the county focuses on diverse HIV epidemic-ending pillars, including prevention, diagnosis, prompt response, and effective treatment. Implementing these objective areas requires progressive local responses and contacts that prioritize the most vulnerable groups. As a result, this assessment is critical to illustrate the response situation in Los Angeles. The nurses’ role in addressing varied HIV issues is a priority that stakeholders cannot overlook. Guilamo-Ramos et al. (2021) acknowledge that these healthcare experts are invaluable in combating new HIV infections. The authors recognize that their participation in response and preparedness efforts targeting this pandemic has positioned them as important players. As a result, their contributions remain critical in the EHE achievement (Ferrer et al., 2023). Such an understanding reveals the importance of conducting this community assessment targeting a vulnerable group in Los Angeles County, California. It emphasizes the value of debunking the HIV situation while highlighting the impact of nurses on HIV control measures and their effectiveness. Methods Understanding the Los Angeles County HIV situation requires a comprehensive community health assessment. Ernstmeyer and Christman (2022) recommend mixed approaches for a detailed evaluation and identification of appropriate information. In this context, this assessment relies on secondary data analysis by analyzing county-relevant publications about HIV and Aids infections in the region. It also explores other peer-reviewed sources to determine the existing demographic, vulnerable groups, and other details of the locality. The authors also highlight the contributions of specific primary data collection techniques for enriching the primary information. For instance, they reveal that the focus group discussions integrating 6 – 10 persons that meet the target population’s criteria provide varied beliefs, practices, and perceptions related to the topical area (Ernstmeyer & Christman, 2022). Key informant interviews with influential and knowledgeable personalities such as nurses provide an in-depth understanding of community issues, while surveys provide demographic and other emerging issues. Ernstmeyer and Christman (2022) also indicate the contributions of participant observations and windshield surveys in identifying community characteristics, including their recreational activities, housing, and health facilities that impact their health outcomes. As a result, this assessment integrates these dynamic methods to collect HIV-related information for a specific susceptible population in Los Angeles County. Population Group and Key Demographics Los Angeles County’s population is highly diverse and has unique demographic characteristics. For instance, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (2022) reveals that the region comprised approximately 10,014,000 persons by 2020. Although English is the primary spoken language, a significant proportion of the people speak Spanish. Statistics indicate that higher education levels are similar to those in the rest of American regions. For instance, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (2022) indicates that over...