Term Paper on Aids Patients
Family
is a universal institution and a close unit of persons emotionally attached to
each other in a way that the problem of one affects all. The family unit becomes
stronger especially in times of sorrow and pain like death, disease, ailment,
loss and casualty. They bring the loved ones together to share with each other.
AIDS is a serious epidemic that affects the body, mind, blood and the family of
an individual. As we can see the patient suffering from Aids also suffers
psychologically from mental stress, low self esteem and depression which at
times leads to social isolation. In situations like this the family and friends
come to the rescue. Most people do not understand and believe that kissing,
hugging, drinking water from the same glass, and working in the office as
someone infected with HIV does not transmit the virus and thus react to the
patients in an unkind manner. This leads to social isolation of the patient and
adds to his/her suffering. The person infected thus becomes extra sensitive and
irritable to the outside stimulus.
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As it is evident from the research that Aids is transmitted from one person to
another through having unprotected intercourse with a partner already infected,
by having one’s blood come in contact with HIV infected blood, from needles,
syringes and piercing and tattooing guns, the HIV infected mother can pass the
virus to their unborn babies during pregnancy.
Families become the hidden victims of Aids when one of the family members is
pronounced HIV positive. It is evident from the various cases that the pain of
the disease itself is superseded by the mental agony of the patient. Various
scenarios are discussed below to highlight the degree of victimization of the
family of an AIDS patient.
Parents
Aids is a relatively new epidemic and people of the older generation associate
it with morals and values and when a person get AIDS, the parents do not readily
accept the fact and may react bluntly especially in case of female patients.
It depends greatly on how it was transmitted to the patient and the level of
awareness of the parents. In such a case the older parents become the victim of
not only the pain of their child but also mental distress.
Spouse
If one spouse is infected with the HIV virus the other suffers significantly.
The first problem that arises is of trust. The uninfected spouse feels deceived
and even if that is not the case and the infection has been caused other means
it creates an air of distances between the spouses. It has been concluded that
even the use of condoms does not save one from the possibility of the
transmission of the infection may be a great cause as it creates a resistance
and fear in having sexual contact with each other. Many marriages may breakdown
due to the reason that one partner is infected with HIV and cause even greater
suffering to the patient and if they remain intact the suffering might shift to
the spouse who has to be careful in both physical and emotional situations.
Male Spouse
Male spouse may be a greater sufferer as the gratification of sexual desires is
hindered due to the infection of the partner. And the fact that the children
will be infected naturally is also a great distressing factor.
Female Spouse
The mental stress due to sensitivity and low resistence affects the female
partner.
Children And Adolescents
Young children may be least affected but they are at a high risk of emotional
stress as they grow up if the cause of HIV infection is not just needles and
blood transfusion. The adolescents may feel embarrassed and become isolated due
to their sensitive psychological state.
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