Understanding the Impact of HIV/AIDS in Native American Communities

Understanding the Impact of HIV/AIDS in Native American Communities

Native Americans are almost twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of HIV compared to white individuals. Discover the necessary insights for nurses to offer testing and treatment that are culturally sensitive. According to the CDC, Native Americans constitute 1.3% of the U.S. population and approximately 1% of all newly reported HIV infections.

Centuries marked by discrimination, forced displacements to remote areas, restricted job opportunities, and broken agreements about funding and healthcare have led to insufficient healthcare infrastructure on reservations and high poverty levels among several Native American nations. These factors have contributed to a higher prevalence of disease and disability within the Native American population. Simultaneously, Native American communities often possess significant social capital and resilience, which nurses can harness to make a positive impact.

Given the challenges in accessing healthcare, the rise in cases, and the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS within the Native American community, nurses have a role in breaking down barriers to effective care. To achieve this, nurses must understand the distinct challenges that the Native American community faces regarding HIV/AIDS and deliver culturally competent care to address this critical situation. This page delineates the essential information nurses need about the implications of HIV/AIDS in Native American communities and the appropriate care procedures.

Barriers to Proper Care and Prevention

Native Americans frequently encounter obstacles to receiving adequate healthcare, such as limited access to healthcare services and education. Among Native Americans with HIV, approximately 20% may be unaware of their condition, increasing the likelihood of transmitting HIV to others.

Dr. Daniel J. Calac emphasizes logistical hurdles that many individuals encounter. He notes, “Native American communities require access to healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals for check-ups. Arranging transportation to these facilities remains a continuous challenge when scheduling care.”

Inadequate health education forms another barrier, as numerous schools on or near reservations have insufficient staffing, limited access to libraries and the internet, both on reservations and in lower-income communities elsewhere. Furthermore, healthcare organizations often have inadequate staffing levels and cannot provide healthcare education during patient visits.

Stigma also poses a significant obstacle to diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, equipped with knowledge, nurses can collaborate with the Native American community to tackle this stigma.

The Stigma of HIV/AIDS in Native American Communities

The stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS has profound psychological consequences for Native Americans. Bill Hall, a Tlingit from Southeast Alaska who serves on the community advisory board for Fred Hutch, affirms that stigma represents “the most significant barrier to effectively combating this disease.” Hall is aware of fellow Alaska Natives so apprehensive about this stigma that they refrained from seeking assistance from a doctor or taking the antiretroviral medications that could have saved their lives.

Dr. Calac adds, “Native American communities tend to be close-knit, with proximity and strong social connections across territories and even states. Given that Native Americans often congregate with others from their community at cultural events, there are typically familiar faces and families attending these gatherings.”

In a small and tightly knit community, the impact of stigma can be even more detrimental. However, without active efforts to counteract stigma, the crisis persists.

Addressing the Challenges Caused by HIV/AIDS in Native American Communities

Nurses and other healthcare professionals can address stigma, encourage testing, support patients during diagnosis and treatment, thus reducing both the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS in Native American communities.

Efforts to Reduce Stigma

Dr. Calac highlights that the Indian Health Service now integrates HIV testing into routine healthcare. “Thankfully, the Indian Health Service mandates HIV screening for all pregnant women and individuals aged 15-65, following USPSTF guidelines.” This approach normalizes testing as part of regular care.

Initiatives catering to Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ Native Americans contribute to destigmatizing sexual orientation and helping young individuals find healthcare providers who support them. Other organizations investigate HIV stigma within Native American populations to comprehend how to address these concerns through education and training.

Nurses within Native American communities can support these endeavors by normalizing testing, treating individuals with HIV/AIDS compassionately and respectfully, and providing education about how treatment can save lives and enhance quality of life.

Healthcare in Nursing: Latest Insights

Eliminating Barriers to Healthcare and Prevention

Native Americans residing on reservations and in rural areas often live far away from healthcare providers and accessible testing and treatment facilities. Telemedicine can help mitigate this challenge in regions with adequate online connectivity.

In urban settings, affordable and culturally appropriate care is frequently inaccessible to Native Americans. Nurses can advocate for Native American access to care, engage in education and training, and network closely with Native American healthcare providers caring for this population. Dr. Calac suggests a collaboration between HIV/AIDS treatment specialists and community members who grasp the approaches most suited to individual communities or tribes.

What Nurses Can Do to Mitigate Healthcare, Education, and Prevention Challenges

As trusted healthcare professionals, nurses can offer education on HIV/AIDS transmission, testing, and treatments. To cultivate this relationship, nurses must earn the trust and respect of these patients by treating them empathetically.

Nurses can encourage individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS to adhere to treatment and assist them in finding support groups, mental health professionals capable of providing culturally competent care, and other resources that address stigma.

Nurses can also contribute to preventing HIV/AIDS in Native American communities by providing nonjudgmental and culturally appropriate education on sex and substance abuse, thereby reducing instances of unprotected sex and needle sharing.

Understanding the Impact of HIV/AIDS in the Black and African American Community

As per the CDC, Native Americans exhibit a greater likelihood compared to other ethnic groups of engaging in drug and alcohol use at an early age, and they use these substances more frequently and in larger quantities. Nurses can offer impartial advice on abstaining, quitting, or minimizing the harmful use of these substances. Nurses can also collaborate with organizations to advocate for broader access to education concerning substance abuse and its association with HIV/AIDS.

Caring for Patients Impacted by HIV/AIDS: FAQs

What precautions should a nursing assistant take when caring for a resident with HIV/AIDS?

Nursing assistants caring for residents with HIV/AIDS should observe the same precautions they would with any other blood-borne pathogen. They should employ gloves when dealing with blood, whether directly or in feces or vomit. Nurses should also take all possible measures to prevent exposing residents to other infections, including regular and thorough handwashing, vaccinations and boosters, and the appropriate use of masks.

How does HIV affect patient care?

Should HIV progress to AIDS, patients become more susceptible to other infections. Consequently, nurses must treat these patients with the same precautions taken for other immunocompromised individuals. This includes maintaining hygiene and keeping vaccinations and boosters up-to-date. Patients with HIV, akin to those with significant chronic conditions, might require additional support for their mental and emotional well-being.

What medical care is necessary for HIV?

Patients with HIV receive antiretroviral treatments aimed at reducing the quantity of viruses in their blood. If treated early, most individuals with HIV can lead normal lives. This underscores the critical importance of HIV diagnosis and treatment for Native Americans, as individuals under treatment are significantly less likely to transmit HIV to others.

What risks do HIV patients face?

HIV patients are at risk of developing AIDS, which weakens their immune systems, rendering them more susceptible to various illnesses. Among the most prevalent infections among those with HIV are pneumonia, certain forms of cancer, hepatitis, shingles, and fungal infections like thrush.
Resources for Nurses and Healthcare Providers

Numerous government agencies and healthcare associations offer assistance and resources to nurses and other healthcare providers involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Furthermore, there are resources specifically tailored to HIV prevention and treatment within Native American communities.

HIV.gov

HIV.gov delivers information to the general public and healthcare professionals on HIV/AIDS, with a section dedicated to Native Americans. The website provides insights into prevention and treatment and outlines available programs and initiatives.

The Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service is a federal agency providing healthcare to Native Americans. Its nursing section outlines various scholarships, loan repayment programs, and career opportunities accessible to nurses. It’s worth noting that being of Native American heritage is not a requirement to work for the IHS.

American Nurses Association

The American Nurses Association issues statements supporting nurses treating HIV patients and their patients. The association develops care standards and a code of ethics, advocating for culturally competent care devoid of stigmatization.

Resources for Native American Communities Impacted by HIV/AIDS

Government bodies and other organizations offer authoritative resources for Native Americans concerning HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD)
NNHAAD seeks to raise awareness and diminish stigma by educating communities about HIV among Native Americans. This event takes place annually on March 20.

HIV.gov
This serves as a centralized source of reliable information for both laypeople and healthcare professionals regarding HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC provides extensive resources concerning HIV and for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The page offers convenient tools for locating care and support within your community, information about your legal rights, assistance with care expenses, and more.

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB)
Although this organization serves and represents Native Americans in Portland and the Pacific Northwest, the HIV-related information and resources are generally applicable or adaptable to the needs of other tribes.

HIV InSite
Curated by the University of California, San Francisco, this resource compiles information on Native Americans and HIV, including capacity-building tools for Native American health from the University of Colorado, the Indigenous Peoples Task Force, the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, and many more.