HIV in Adolescents

HIV in Adolescents.
Explore all: briefly definition & history of HIV.
Explain adolescent and their peculiar characteristics applying developmental theory based on Erickson, Piaget, or Kohlberg.
APA 7Th Edition, no abstract.

SAMPLE PAPER

HIV in Adolescents

HIV, the acronym for human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that has been around for a very long time. HIV is defined as a virus attacking the immune system, and which can cause AIDS if left untreated (Murrell, 2020). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020a) traces the existence of HIV to the 1970s. According to this source, this virus was acquired from chimpanzees in central Africa during the 1800s. At that time, the virus was known as simian immunodeficiency virus and was passed from chimpanzees to humans after the latter ate infected chimpanzee meat. Another version of the story states that the first case of HIV was recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo at around 1931 (Murrell, 2020). Both versions hold a similar view that human beings were exposed to the virus during hunting, when they came in contact with the blood of animals.

HIV affects people of all ages. Among adolescents, the risk of contracting HIV is quite high. The World Health Organization (2020) estimates that at present, 3 out of every 10 new infections occur among young people aged between 15 and 25 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020b) reports that in the year 2018, there were 37,832 new cases of HIV in the US, out of which 21% were recorded in adolescents. The danger or impact of HIV on adolescents is further exacerbated by the fact that most of the children who are born with the virus will grow into HIV positive adolescents (World Health Organization, 2020). As a result, HIV is considered a major problem affecting people in their adolescent years.

Several factors put adolescents at a high risk of contracting HIV. To begin with, adolescence is, for most people, the stage at which people are initiated into sexual behaviors. Quoting the World Health Organization (2020, para.2), “young people’s risk of becoming newly infected with HIV is closely correlated with the age of sexual debut”. In other words, as individuals experience the urge to explore their sexuality, they expose themselves to HIV. This is well illustrated using the Erikson’s developmental theory, in which adolescence is considered to be very important stage wherein a person forms his/her identity. According to this theory, it is during adolescence when activities such as exploring of social roles and sexual identity take place (Deb, 2018). This is understandable, especially considering the definition of adolescence as the period where individuals exit childhood and enter adulthood. As observed by Deb (2018), adolescents experience various changes; physiologically, they experience sexual development. In light of these changes and developments, adolescents may easily acquire HIV if they do not receive proper guidance on how to deal with or respond to the sexual changes that occur.

According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory, adolescence is a turbulent stage wherein individuals exhibit a natural urge of exploring their independence. Regarding identity formation, the theory postulates that as adolescents interact with one another, they develop an ego identity: a conscious sense regarding self. With proper guidance, adolescents will achieve the outcome of fidelity, which refers to the capability of living in accordance with societal norms and expectations (Cherry, 2020). What this means is that successful navigation through the adolescent stage, through support, guidance and encouragement, reduces HIV exposure among adolescents.

In conclusion, everyone is at risk of contracting HIV but adolescents are particularly prone to this virus due to social and physiological developmental changes taking place during this stage. The adventurous nature of adolescents, the desire to explore their independence, and the identity formation process all make adolescents vulnerable to HIV. Timely, proper sexual education and guidance are needed to keep adolescents from HIV infections.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020a). About HIV. www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020b). HIV and youth. www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/age/youth/index.html

Cherry, K. (2020). Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740

Deb, S. (2018). Positive schooling and child development: international perspectives. Springer.

Murrell, D. (2020). The history of HIV and AIDS in the United States. www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/history

World Health Organization. (2020). HIV and youth. www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/adolescence/hiv/en/#:~:text=Currently%2C%20over%2030%25%20of%20all,million%20youth%20living%20with%20HIV.

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