What Is The Role Of Community Psychology In Prevention Of HIV In India

HIV is both a social and economic issue affecting the citizens of India and its migrant populations. There have been strategies derived to counter the spread of HIV and combat the vulnerability of individuals. There is need to strengthen the community-led HIV responses towards the proliferation of the disease. The approach will increase the extent in which the community participates in the program. Also, it aims at creating awareness and need for healthy future coupled by stipulated action plans for this issue. Moreover, the community will understand best the available capacities and mechanisms in response to HIV prevention. As HIV is a social problem, every citizen should learn how to handle and treat the victims of this disease. There is a need to facilitate effective interactions among the society through the change of people’s attitude. Thereby, community psychology in this way reduces the stigmatization and discrimination instances thus equipping individuals with compassionate measures.

India lacks efficient and effective mechanisms for preventing the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (Giri & Pandve, 2016). There is a vast improvement in the medical field for the treatment of HIV creating an opportunity for the victims to live a healthy life. Although the advancements in treatment are useful, there exists a significant risk of spread of HIV thus making the aspect of prevention a necessity. The available methods currently in use focus on the new acquisitions cases of HIV.

It is worth noting that the already affected individuals should be in the considerations for effective control. The available literature in this field indicates that previous researchers had dwelt on the establishment of public programs that creates awareness among the citizens with a focus on Nepali and Bangladeshi migrants (“HIV/AIDS in India,” 2015). The competence team in Mumbai India has an established plan that incorporates the strengths of local NGOs and the immediate community.
Currently, scientists are yet to discover the cure for HIV. However, there are various medications used to reduce the effects of this condition commonly known as antiretroviral therapy. Psychologists, therefore, intends to create personal and communal responsibility in the management of HIV. For instance, every member of the society is advised to take HIV tests, adhere to medications provided, take measurable actions to prevent the spread such as the use of condoms (Beyrer & Baral, 2011). All these mechanisms lead to better control and management of HIV in the community.

In a bid to protect the country from HIV menace, various relevant bodies recommend the use of sharing, support and appreciation tools. The community is highly encouraged to adopt this framework. The principles of public health programs hold that absolute provision of information alone has little impacts towards behavioral change. The services provided in any project should make the community recognize that the issue addressed concerns them. It will, therefore, create an effective behavior change. The citizens of India need an opportunity to build their strengths and learn lessons to control the prevention. Reports indicate that Indians are much willing to adopt mechanisms of prevention. However, some factors hinder this process and act as barriers. For instance, women were ready to use female condoms, but they lacked the proper training to use them (“HIV and AIDS in India | AVERT,” 2015). Psychologists, therefore, play the role of facilitation of any proposed means that achieves resilience.

The prevention of HIV among the citizens includes not only biomedical intervention but also behavioral techniques as well. Psychologists recommend the address of social and environmental determinants in creating substantial impacts (“HIV/AIDS | UNICEF,” 2016). For the country to effectively manage HIV, it has to strengthen the link between the biomedical and behavioral approaches. The health care providers have a role in ensuring that psychological factors are not a hindrance to proper management. Such factors may include fear of positive results that limits the frequency and number of citizens taking HIV tests. The health care practitioners also have a role in addressing the stigma issues associated with the sexual life of different partners such as intimate partner violence, homosexuality, and sexual abuse. There is, therefore, a necessity to ease access to health care services, create connections and maintenance of proper antiretroviral therapy.

The HIV crisis is complicated and worsened by other social factors such as depression, substance abuse, and attempted suicides. Reports indicate that people with HIV are affected psychologically and end up facing other psychological conditions. The services of communal psychologists are highly required to contain the spread of HIV. There exists a healthy relationship in the risk of acquisition of HIV, risk behavior and psychosocial health issues. The mechanisms of prevention of HIV, therefore, have to factor these social challenges. The vulnerability of HIV infection in an individual also depends on early life encounters such as the bullying, parental abuse, and homophobia.

In conclusion, the HIV prevention mechanisms adopted in India majorly aims at preventing new HIV infections to the uninfected. There exists a significant missed opportunity in that the already affected people and omitted in this prevention mechanism play a bigger role. It is due to the fact they are the ones who facilitate the spread from one person to another. Adjustments have to be made on the prevention techniques to include behavioral elements in social life. The psychological aspects of individuals in the prevention of HIV in India have not been adopted wholly. Further, the introduction of antiretroviral drugs and change in population structure in HIV prevalence affect the prevention mechanisms. The vulnerable population such as adults and heterosexual partners are hardly reached. All these factors depict the crucial need for community psychology in the prevention of HIV.

India has made significant efforts in the maintenance of spread of HIV among its citizens. Following the growth of its economy, India accommodates a broad range of tourists, business people and travelers from all over the world. The interaction contributes to the change and acquisition of new behavior that facilitates different sexual practices and hence the spread of HIV. The country’s government, therefore, needs to massively invest its resources to ensure minimum cases of HIV infections. I would also recommend immediate implementation of the set plans that incorporates both medical and psychological aspects.

References
Beyrer, C. & Baral, S. (2011). The Global HIV Epidemics among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) (1st ed.). Washington: World Bank Publications.
Giri, P. & Pandve, H. (2016). HIV/AIDS prevention and control in India: Achievements and future Challenges. PMC National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4755085/HIV/AIDS in India. (2015). World Bank. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2012/07/10/hiv-aids-india
HIV and AIDS in India | AVERT. (2015). Avert.org. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/asia-pacific/indiaHIV/AIDS | UNICEF. (2016). Unicef.in. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from http://www.unicef.in/Story/1123/HIV-AIDS