Application of Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing

Application of Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Description of the Outbreak
HIV/AIDS is a viral disease that usually affects the immune system of an individual making the body less resistant to various infections such as tuberculosis among others. The disease outbreak was first discovered in the year 1981 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its cause was also discovered in the early 1980s (Whiteside, 2016). However, it is said to have reached the United States as early as 1960 but was not discovered until the early 80s. It reached most countries across the world in the 90s and early 2000s. It is alleged that the disease was first discovered in West-Central Africa but has since spread to every section of the world. The most affected countries are in the sub-Saharan Africa region. In the year 2016, an estimated 36.7 million people were living with the virus. Since it was discovered, it has caused deaths for more than 35 million people across the world.
Epidemiological determinants and risk factors associated with the outbreak
HIV/AIDS has been regarded as a global pandemic. By the year 2016, more than 36.7 million people were infected by the virus. The main epidemiological determinants are blood and body fluids exchange through sexual intercourse and blood transfusion. Sexual intercourse is, however, the major way through which the virus is distributed. Majority of the people infected are women. Slightly over 50% of the total number of infected people is women.

Children are also at high risk of contracting the disease considering that about 2.1 million children are infected (Whiteside, 2016). Of all the HIV/AIDS cases that have been reported, the highest percentage is for Sub-Saharan Africa. In the year 2010, about 68% of the total cases and about 66% of the total number of deaths were from this region.
Route of transmission of the selected disease
The primary route through which HIV/AIDS is transmitted is unprotected sex. Other routes include the exchange of blood and body fluids which may be through blood transfusion and sharing of sharp objects among others.
How an outbreak of the selected disease would impact your community at a systems level
An epidemic of HIV would have a significant impact on the community at the system level, especially in hospitals and schools. Hospitals will be faced with the challenge of trying to contain the spread while at the same time maintaining the already reported cases (Whiteside, 2016). Their use of equipment and facilities on patients will need to be controlled. At schools, HIV/AIDS may cause stigma among the infected.
The reporting protocol would be if an outbreak of the selected disease were to occur in your community
The disease is first reported to the local health authority. The local authority then reports to state and national health authorities. The community would use the reporting protocol to deliver information regarding the virus and how it can aid in prevention and control.
Two strategies to prevent an outbreak of HIV/AIDS in my community
One of the most effective strategy would be to provide community education. This will involve enlightening people on how they can avoid the spread of the disease and how the infected should maintain themselves. The second strategy would be to educate patients on the dangers of spreading the virus and how they can avoid spreading.
References
Whiteside, A. (2016). HIV and AIDS: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.