The history of a disease can provide valuable information for those trying to prevent or cure it, so I believe it is important to know where a disease came from, how it has changed over time, and the methods of transmission associated with it. By knowing these things, researchers will be able to have another piece of the puzzle with which they can form a more complete picture of how the disease interacts with our immune systems and how it can be stopped.
The theories presented for the possible transmission routes for SIV to humans (which then developed into HIV) are very interesting, but I think that the "hunter" theory probably is the most plausible. This theory postulates that chimpanzee SIV was passed to bushmeat hunters in Africa by either ingesting the infected chimpanzee meat or by accidentally getting infected chimpanzee blood on an open wound. Chimpanzee SIV then mutated in the new human hosts and became HIV. This theory makes sense to me because we know how HIV mutates and how similar it is to strains of SIV. The other theories in our reading focused on the spread of HIV rather than the development of it, except for the "conspiracy theory" which seems really ridiculous to me from a biological viewpoint.
Of the theories on the spread of HIV, I believe the contaminated needle theory is plausible as it is entirely possible that needles were reused, especially at that time in history before the widespread fear of contaminated needles became a reality. The oral polio vaccine theory seems unlikely because of the counterarguments described in the reading (macaque monkey instead of chimpanzee, the virus-killing acid in the stomach, and the appearance of HIV prior to the OPV trials).
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Knapsack
In her article, "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack", Peggy McIntosh describes the unconscious domination over others that supports an oppressive system of power, felt and understood uniquely by those it oppresses, while those in positions of dominance remain ignorant of their privileged status. While she notes that this unconscious dominance is evident in the various privileges that some are able to enjoy, mainly white people in comparison to people of color, she also points out that men enjoy a disproportionate amount of domination over women, regardless of skin color.
I agree with most of the author's points and feel that she did a great job of summarizing the privileges that white people take for granted. I was especially glad to see the list of privileges, many of which I had never thought of before, which only proves her point - that we are so unaware of our privileges and the systemic ways in which privileges are conferred. Reading her article, I couldn't help but wonder what could be done to change this system, with the end result being that people of all color are comfortable in our society and are incorporated into it so thoroughly that skin color becomes as irrelevant as hair color. McIntosh's only suggestion is to become more aware of unearned privileges, but does not offer us anything else to answer my question. I agree that if all white men in the world realized they weren't entitled to their unearned power that the world would be a better place for everyone else, but how do we as a society go about deconstructing a system which reinforces domination based on appearances and the need for superiority over others?
Privilege in regards to the spread of diseases is obvious to me. Why are so many people with HIV/AIDS in developing countries having to go without antiretroviral drugs while we here in privileged America can expect them? Why are black women more likely to die from cervical and breast cancer than white women? Because of unequal access to healthcare and health information. Even within the U.S., we saw in class the charts showing the distribution of various STI's, with the highest proportion often being in the Southern states where the largest proportion of African Americans live.
I think larger systems of oppression should be addressed when talking about sexual health because these systems are barriers to sexual health. Understanding how such systems affect access to healthcare and health information will help public health officials understand how to improve the health of communities that are oppressed because of their race, sex, class, or some other social marker.
I agree with most of the author's points and feel that she did a great job of summarizing the privileges that white people take for granted. I was especially glad to see the list of privileges, many of which I had never thought of before, which only proves her point - that we are so unaware of our privileges and the systemic ways in which privileges are conferred. Reading her article, I couldn't help but wonder what could be done to change this system, with the end result being that people of all color are comfortable in our society and are incorporated into it so thoroughly that skin color becomes as irrelevant as hair color. McIntosh's only suggestion is to become more aware of unearned privileges, but does not offer us anything else to answer my question. I agree that if all white men in the world realized they weren't entitled to their unearned power that the world would be a better place for everyone else, but how do we as a society go about deconstructing a system which reinforces domination based on appearances and the need for superiority over others?
Privilege in regards to the spread of diseases is obvious to me. Why are so many people with HIV/AIDS in developing countries having to go without antiretroviral drugs while we here in privileged America can expect them? Why are black women more likely to die from cervical and breast cancer than white women? Because of unequal access to healthcare and health information. Even within the U.S., we saw in class the charts showing the distribution of various STI's, with the highest proportion often being in the Southern states where the largest proportion of African Americans live.
I think larger systems of oppression should be addressed when talking about sexual health because these systems are barriers to sexual health. Understanding how such systems affect access to healthcare and health information will help public health officials understand how to improve the health of communities that are oppressed because of their race, sex, class, or some other social marker.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
HIV/AIDS
Most of what I know about HIV/AIDS has come from sex education in school and from the media. I feel that I have a pretty good understanding of how the disease progresses, it's effects on the immune system, transmission routes, the social implications of the disease, and research efforts to find a cure. However, I was suprised to learn from the video on Wednesday that the most common rate of transmission is found in cases of hetersexual relationships, where married women are the fastest-growing group of people to acquire the disease. It is very unfortunate that they most often acquire the disease from their husbands.
I am very interested to learn about the cultural and social implications of the disease, in America and in other countries. As an anthropology student, it is very interesting to me to see how diseases influence and are influenced by culture, politics, economics, women's rights, and the media. I would also like to learn more about research efforts and the allocation of research funds throughout the various political administrations since the disease was first diagnosed. I would also like to learn more about international cooperative efforts to combat the disease, such as the International AIDS Society (http://www.iasociety.org/).
I am very interested to learn about the cultural and social implications of the disease, in America and in other countries. As an anthropology student, it is very interesting to me to see how diseases influence and are influenced by culture, politics, economics, women's rights, and the media. I would also like to learn more about research efforts and the allocation of research funds throughout the various political administrations since the disease was first diagnosed. I would also like to learn more about international cooperative efforts to combat the disease, such as the International AIDS Society (http://www.iasociety.org/).
Global Disparity
From what I have learned in class and from readings, I believe that socioeconomic status is the most influential factor in the spread of diseases like STIs. A person's ability to protect their own safety and to acquire medical care is directly related to their income and class. For example, women in Sub-Saharan Africa are more at risk of acquiring AIDS because they often do not have the power to demand condom use from their partners or to seek the healthcare they need. In many low-income coutnries, healthcare is very limited and difficult to obtain, again placing those with a low socioeconomic status at a serious disadvantage. From the videos we have watched in class and from the textbook, it seems like the best way to combat the spread of STIs and other diseases is to reduce poverty and empower women, thereby raising individuals' socioeconomic status and thus their ability to protect themselves and improve their access to necessary healthcare.
As an American, I think it is difficult for us to imagine living in a world in which high-quality healthcare is not readily available. I think that as Americans, we tend to make ethnocentric judments about people from other countries and the diseases they are burdened with, without considering the reality of socioeconomic disparity. The relatively low cost of vaccines and prophylactics here in America is often unimaginably expensive for much of the rest of the world. Here in America, we hardly ever hear about diseases related to poor sanitary conditions or unsafe drinking water, let alone rampant STIs that have vaccines and treatments. The rest of the world is not so lucky, especially those living in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, where the highest disease burdens are found. It bothered me to hear in Wednesday's video about perceptions of AIDS victims in Africa being "sexually promiscuous" because it is such a hypocritical, baseless judgement, especially when considering that many of those victims acquired the disease in-utero.
Problems associated with global disparities cannot be solved by just handing out condoms and vaccines. Issues of women's rights and high rates of poverty must also be addressed. Only through a comprehensive, cooperative approach to global disparity will solutions be found.
As an American, I think it is difficult for us to imagine living in a world in which high-quality healthcare is not readily available. I think that as Americans, we tend to make ethnocentric judments about people from other countries and the diseases they are burdened with, without considering the reality of socioeconomic disparity. The relatively low cost of vaccines and prophylactics here in America is often unimaginably expensive for much of the rest of the world. Here in America, we hardly ever hear about diseases related to poor sanitary conditions or unsafe drinking water, let alone rampant STIs that have vaccines and treatments. The rest of the world is not so lucky, especially those living in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, where the highest disease burdens are found. It bothered me to hear in Wednesday's video about perceptions of AIDS victims in Africa being "sexually promiscuous" because it is such a hypocritical, baseless judgement, especially when considering that many of those victims acquired the disease in-utero.
Problems associated with global disparities cannot be solved by just handing out condoms and vaccines. Issues of women's rights and high rates of poverty must also be addressed. Only through a comprehensive, cooperative approach to global disparity will solutions be found.
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