Should You be Tested for Hiv?

The smallpox epidemic is widely regarded as an excellent model for public health endeavors. It took a large team of gifted scientists and doctors decades to eradicate the disease. This groups was spearheaded by doctors from the United States who used their own expertise in eradicating Smallpox within the US thirty years previously. The end of, or even the slowing of, the AIDS epidemic is nowhere in sight, and there are few methods within the united states that break through standard social and cultural fears concerns about the taboo HIV virus. As there is no vaccine for HIV, the single most powerful method to slowing the epidemic is knowing the infection status of people on a personal, scientific and health standpoint. This would require mandatory testing of all United States citizens on a regular basis. This information serves two different purposes: Prospective, highlighting future risk areas and informing the local populace on prevention measures, and reactive, locating and responding to areas with high rates of HIV infection.

The identification and modeling of new affected groups is critical in the restriction of the HIV epidemic. In poorer countries, it is clear that HIV spreads along the lines of socioeconomic weakness, most common in impoverished populations. One of the most obviously problematic aspects of the AIDS epidemic is that its most highly affected demographic has changed over time, shifting from white gay men to straight black women. One of the most critical aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is identifying current shifts in transmission from high to low risk groups and identifying communities that need to be served. A recent report notes the increased rates of HIV infection low-income areas of New York City, particularly among black women. "We need services in those communities that are struggling with little or nothing to keep up with the high demand for services,” says Debra Fazer-Hoze, a local activist. “We are beginning to look like some places in Sub-Saharan Africa.” (Ramirez) Similar trends have been noticed in relation to a social phenomenon in the United States, the high rate of incarceration and infection of black men. All too often, men leave prison not knowing if they have been infected with HIV during their period of incarceration. (Clemeston) Mandatory testing would highlight these cases and make it obvious where new problems are occurring. Noting the beginnings of a shift of HIV into a new population such as in this example of black women can be critical in launching educational campaigns to prevent the development of new infected populations.

The identification of problem areas on which to focus resources is another major aspect of HIV eradication. In such areas, mandatory testing is crucial, not only so that health systems have an accurate picture of a shifting demographic, but also so that those infected know their status and understand how to respond. Mandatory testing every two years would allow public health professionals to identify areas where prevention education is effective and problematic areas that indicate a language barrier or religious disagreement. (Smith) Additionally, mandatory testing would continue to fill the role of identifying new affected populations, allowing public health workers to identify the sources of new outbreaks and help educate at-risk populations and those that may be becoming newly infected, helping to prevent spread. (Smith) On a personal level, mandatory HIV testing can help inform individuals in areas with high rates on infection. This can help them to protect themselves and their sexual partners by encouraging safe sexual practices. (Clemetson)This, and concentrated efforts by public health workers, can be instrumental in restricting the spread of HIV. Mandatory testing gives clear benefits to public health departments to recognize current major issues and react accordingly.

Mandatory HIV testing within the United States has many obvious benefits. Many people are currently not diagnosed as being HIV positive, leaving them incapable of fully caring for themselves or protecting their sexual partners from infection. Mandatory HIV testing will fill the role of both a reactive and prospective technique: Testing will indicate subgroups of people that are newly beginning to have HIV concentrations, allowing the medial and activist community to intervene in its spread. Additionally, mandatory testing will reveal the changing nature of highly infected communities and the areas in which educational programs are being successful or failing. The value of this information can go a long way to slowing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the United States.