Gender sex and health

Gender, Sex, and Health Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Gender, Sex, and Health Health and wellness remain vital in virus constructs of contemporary human living, bearing the efforts put into improving those prospects. Policy debates mostly concern how people can move from the present living standards to even higher living standards. However, there are still notable discrepancies in society, thereby triggering questions on whether enough is done to ensure health and wellness for all people. There are still distinct population binaries ranging from gender to sexuality, disease infections, and race that remain mildly addressed in multiple social constructs. More inputs must be developed to ensure societies that befit the needs of all the people. This paper explores some of the challenging health issues, HIV/AIDS and domestic violence, through the queer theory and sex-role theory lenses, respectively. Understanding the basis of health and wellness issues on various theoretical frameworks is vital in devising strategies to revitalize the roots of the problems for an even society in terms of some challenges. HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS is among the biggest health and wellness challenges in the world today. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a condition that weakens individuals’ natural defenses against some types of cancers and infections. The virus destroys or impairs the immune cells. The infected individuals lose their CD4 cell count and become immune-deficient. Immunodeficiency amounts to escalated susceptibility to a wide range of infections, including typhoid, cancers, and some other illnesses that people with effective immune systems can fight without the need to medicate. The most advanced stage of HIV is AIDS. Individuals with AIDS develop a high susceptibility to long-term illnesses. Individuals whose CD4 cell counts drop to below 200 are diagnosed with AIDS. On most occasions, people stay for long without knowing their HIV status. There are multiple risk factors linked to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. HIV is primarily transmitted through the exchange of body fluids. Fluids, such as vaginal secretions, semen, breast milk, and blood, can lead to transmission of the virus if exchanged. People who are HIV positive and are kept in the right regimens of antiretroviral drugs can suppress their condition to the extent where they cannot transmit the virus. Hence, early access to the drugs is vital to managing the possible impacts of the condition. Still, there are notable risk factors when it comes to the prevalence of HIV. Some of such risk factors include having unprotected vaginal or anal sex with individuals whose HIV status is unknown and having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as bacterial vaginosis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and syphilis. Sharing of contaminated equipment, such as syringes, needles, and other injecting equipment, is also a risk factor. Additionally, people who receive unsafe blood transfusions and injections or tissue plantations stand a chance of contracting HIV. There have been cases of individuals transferring the virus to infants through breastfeeding, while others contract the virus through accidents that involve the exchange of bodily fluids. Still, sexual engagements mark the primary risk factor in the prevalence of HIV. Prevalence of HIV HIV remains a global public health issue bearing the prevalent data. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that HIV has claimed 33 million lives since its discovery. At the end of 2019, 38 million people had been diagnosed with HIV globally. Also, close to 20% of individuals living with HIV do not know their status, while 33% cannot access proper medication for their condition (WHO, 2021). More people are having access to drugs. However, the rates are not so efficient, considering that more people are contracting the virus. The data within the UK is a little different from the global trends, albeit with notable concerns. The UK has a relatively low number of HIV cases. In 2017, the UK had 101,600 cases of HIV. That number translates to 2.2 per 1000 people aged 15-74 years or 1.7 per 1000 people of all ages (Avert). In the same year, the UK recorded a 17% fall in the number of people diagnosed with HIV, with only 4,363 diagnoses recorded. The fall in the number of HIV cases in the UK is attributable to an increase in awareness of HIV (Avert). In 2017, it was established that 45% of the UK population had advanced knowledge of HIV. The positive trajectory in the number of infections and knowledge of the disease is vital in mounting the fight against the virus. There are notable concerns on the prevalence of HIV in the UK amidst the decline in numbers. The LGBTQ community and black African populations are the most affected with HIV in the UK. In 2017, more than half (53%) of new HIV diagnoses occurred among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with fellow men (Avert). Comparatively, 18% and 24% of the diagnoses occurred among heterosexual men and women respectively in that year. Notably, black African men and women constituted 30% of LGBTQ adults diagnosed with HIV in the same year. Late diagnosis, especially among LGBTQ members, is becoming an escalating concern (Avert). In 2017, 43% of the diagnoses were done late. It is indicated that more than half of the deaths that year were caused by late diagnoses. The fact that the prevalence is higher in LGBTQ and black African populations also remains a subject of debate. Barriers to HIV/AIDS Care among LGBTQ Members The LGBTQ members still manifest challenges that they must overcome to eliminate the ills of HIV in their midst. One of the biggest challenges that such individuals face is stigma. Stigma in any population segment can impede efforts to mitigate, prevent, or treat cases of HIV (WHO, 2021). Stigma also makes individuals less likely to test themselves and know their HIV status. People within gender identity minorities and those who fall into the LGBTQ community are more susceptible to the stigma challenges in their HIV health. Such individuals are subject to ridicule in some communities that do not appreciate their sexuality. Also, negative profiling in healthcare facilities demoralize members of the LGBTQ community from seeking the necessary professional intervention on HIV concerns. Low population density and lack of specialized services are the other factors that fuel the prevalence of HIV among individuals from the LGBTQ community. Members of the LGBTQ are discouraged from seeking HIV tests or treatments because of a lack of specialists or facilities specializing in their needs (WHO, 2021). With their unique needs, such individuals can feel isolated in some cases involving HIV management. In the UK, the low population density is also a considerable challenge as few efforts are put to address the needs of such populations. The lack of proper avenues to address LGBTQ in matters concerning HIV should remain a concern to all the stakeholders. Queer Theory Queer theory is one of the most insightful models in understanding HIV challenges among members of the LGBTQ community. Queer theory was developed in the 1990s, emphasizing developing insights on sexuality issues that arise beyond the confines of heterosexuality...