HIV/AIDS, social capital, social factors, physical space, health-care organizations
Recent Data suggests that HIV transmission is increasing. It is important to consider the idea that HIV/AIDS is a disease of the population. It is because of society that the virus has been able to thrive. It is important to look at the social factors: social capital, social networks and physical space because these three factors can explain why the disease occurs and how it affects the effectiveness of health-care organizations that try to treat and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. In many developing countries HIV/AIDS affects its working force, cultural values, and political stability. Thus it is important to define the initial cause of the virus in order to eradicate the social factors that may help the transmission of HIV.
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The city of San Diego, like most urban centers around the world, is undergoing a fight against HIV/AIDS. Hillcrest is located in Central San Diego and has a high population of homosexual men who are infected with the virus. This study will analyze how the social factors: social capital, social networks, and physical space play a role in the transmission of the HIV virus. The objective is to understand these roles and what steps are required to combat the increasing incidence in Hillcrest. The proposal aims to provide evidence that social factors encourage faster rates of transmission because of the social isolation and cultural practices that stem from these factors; however, HIV/AIDS health organizations provide resources when people do become infected. The research design is based on analysis of interviews, literary research, surveys, and census data. This study will add to the literature on HIV/AIDS and Public Health. The results will be shared with healthcare providers in hopes of providing solutions to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The City of San Diego, more specifically Hillcrest, like many large cities has dealt with HIV/AIDS as an urban health problem. Recent data suggests that HIV transmission rates are rising. HIV/AIDS has been known to create social injustice, and political instability in many cities and countries. The purpose of this study is to determine how social factors: social capital, social networks, and physical space influence the effectiveness of healthcare organizations. These healthcare organizations are the sole providers of education and prevention for at risk populations. They also provide support groups for those that are infected or affected with HIV/AIDS. By understanding the roles of the organizations, the study provides evidence of correlation, allowing healthcare providers and public health workers a study that can help implement preventative measures. Through qualitative research this study was able to answer the question of how HIV/AIDS health-care organizations play a role in the prevention of HIV/AIDS as influenced by social capital, social networks, and physical space. The findings provide evidence that healthcare organizations provide prevention through encouragement of status disclosure, educational measures, while maintaining the confidentiality of their clients.
In order to accurately and efficiently gather the data for the SRP deadlines need to be followed and met. The first thing I did about a month ago was gather the information (address, phone, email etc) of all the organizations that I wanted to contact for surveys and/or interviews. I have completed one survey at Being Alive so far and I was able to take notes on the organization (workers and volunteers). They allowed me to survey during their busiest time of the month, which is food distribution. I hope to make arrangements with the other five organizations I have listed. I am trying to arrange to do surveys during educational programs so I can present my project to the crowd and pass out the surveys. I am in the process of scheduling interviews with the organizations. Some of the organizations take a while to get back to me so it has been difficult scheduling interviews.
I hope to spend an entire day researching the newspaper archive. I will start at Geisel Library because it has a variety of newspapers to look through. This part of the project will be very tedious. I may have to drive to the historical society for articles that Geisel will not have. Additionally, gathering the locations of the health organizations will take some time as well. I hope to accomplish this during Christmas Break as I will be in the area. I will need to look online for most of the clinics locations. I have information for almost of them.
If the Clinics map does not work out I will have to possible map income in the area and compare it to the rest of San Diego county. This will still provide evidence of social capital and how it can influence the effectiveness of the organizations. If the interviews and/or surveys do not work out I will need to do more literary research. Thus to keep my project moving I need to stay focus on the dates and do my best to accomplish the tasks by the due dates.
The spatial component of my project is focused in Hillcrest (a well known gay community in San Diego). I will be mapping out health-care organizations via GIS. I will also be using physical space as a social factor to allow me to analyze whether or not neighborhoods play a role in allowing people to get HIV/AIDS education. Physical space is also used to analyze where people grew up and if that has an affect in transmitting HIV.
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