Ugh Morning...

 

Several factors are threatening the ongoing fight against HIV, much of it is due to republicans.  This 1st piece's topic has been in the news for weeks.  Because of cuts to medicaid & HIV programs, many states are scaling back their assistance programs.  This cost many their coverage & meds.

Due to ICE, people, even US citizens, are avoiding places that could put them in contact with the agency.  This article covers how it's impacting treatment in some communities.

This last piece is about people with HIV in Ethiopia, especially  adolescents & young adults (AYA).  It shows that women carry a higher burden when it comes to HIV, yet the research is on them is much lower than that concerning males.  This may be about Ethiopia, but the same issue regarding women has been prevalent in many studies.  This has been an ongoing complaint against current research studies & standards.

On to my morning.  This morning is dark, wet & fairly yuck.  I'm achy & tired.  It figures the 1st several days after the time change would be miserable storm BS.  I need sunlight.   My jolty morning are ramping up & leaving a depleted mess.  SAD shouldn't last into March.  It did last year & I'm hoping this isn't a thing from now on.

Wow, 3 articles in a single post.  But they're all about how we're failing in the fight against HIV.  The weather is screwing my DST.  Plus there's still everyday crap to deal with.  So, yeah, March is being just peachy.

Take care.

Cya...

Not Just...

 

I see articles about how HIV is addressed dissimilarly due to differing patient  demographics.  These factors include race & ethnicity, sex, rurality & social vulnerability.  It's accurate to say these distinctions can & do impact HIV treatment, but there's something being left out.  These traits affect groups no matter what the issue. 

Any of these factors or combination of them can push a person further from the standard of care given the mainstream population.  I'm gay, rural, poor & on disability.  My access to everything is very limited compared to a middle class person living in a metro area.  Still, that affects everything, not just my HIV treatment.

Too many articles are written as if these were isolated assaults those HIV+.  Disparity in treatment has always been a reality.  It shouldn't be, but it is.  In many incidents, the more conventional, metro & affluent a person is, the better they will be treated.

Stigma & disparity are a given in any situation where there's a power imbalance.  From what I can tell, it's not a fight that can be won.  You can focus on it & waste a lot of effort, but it's unlikely any lasting change will come about.  Sorry, but society sucks.

Cya...

None For You...

 

For most of my life, I've never felt I was the intended audience or target of any beneficial actions or possibilities.  It was annoying, but I learned to live with it & make what I could the things available.  Then something happened & I was the target audience.  I found out I was HIV+ & I was Gay.   Woohoo, for once I was in the focus group.  Even if it was for something horrible like HIV. 

The purpose of this blog was for me to record my life & experiences being HIV+ while living in a rural area.  This has never been easy.  At 1st, it was mainly just the rural concept that was the problem.  The research hardly ever considered such areas.  If it did, the works concerned the deep South or other countries.   Basically still not applicable to my situation.  I could count the number of articles aimed at Oklahoma on my fingers.  I'd need just a hand, if it was focused more on rural Oklahoma.  That's less than 10 pieces out of 13 years of daily blogging. 

Now, I'm no longer the focus of even HIV.  It's shifted to racial/ethnic groups.  And there's always the boatload of works over transgender women.   Funny, I hardly ever see anything over trans men or women.  I suppose if you were an mixed race, homeless, drug using, transgender street walker, you'd be the optimum focus group.

Maybe that sounds hateful.  Maybe there is some disdain.  But it really isn't at the trans groups.  It's at all the people who keep politicizing & fracturing the fight against HIV.  I shouldn't be surprised.  This is what happens to every social group & movement.   They splinter into the tiniest of niche groups & then scream when the movement focuses on the original core.

There are lots of articles on trans & racial issues.   They won't be covered here.  That's not the point of this blog & there's a host of trend chasers covering those matters.   I wonder what those groups will do when the focus is no longer on them.

Cya...

Maybe Storms...

 

The sky's looking a little weird & there are storms in the forecast.  I'll post something for now.  It's not like there were any good articles out today.  They keep posting pieces about how well the HIV numbers are in the US, but then have to bring it down by stating there's still racial inequity in the fight.  What do they want?  Are people supposed to track down HIV+ POC & test/dose them?   If people of other races & ethnicities refuse to get on board with the fight against HIV, what is everyone else supposed to do?  I'd like so serious answers to that question.

Cya...

Most Down, Others Risk...

 

There've been a lot of generalized reports about HIV cases in the US being on the decline for the past decade.  I'm not interested in the specifics here, just the side notes.  They said too many people aren't on PrEP.  Maybe a lot of people can't be on the med.  Maybe they can't afford or tolerate it.  Is it possible they'd rather rely on a much more affordable & less risky condom?  The CDC sounds like an ad agency for PrEP.

The other point was that even though the overall numbers were down some at risk groups were still higher than average.  By at risk groups they referred mostly to Hispanics & Blacks.  For decades people have fought against HIV.  A lot of effort has been aimed at non-White communities.  What more can people reasonably do?  If these 2 groups don't wish to take care of themselves, what can be done about it.  Maybe educate others these groups are less apt to play safe.  Oops, that probably wouldn't go over well, even if it is fairly accurate.

Cya.

Insensitive, Maybe...

 

Plans for fighting HIV faltered during the pandemic.  A lot of things did.  Programs are doing their best to get back on top of matters.  But there are some  groups scattershooting blame for failure of HIV treatment approach strategies for certain communities.

Very often, articles state those treating HIV in ethnic or cultural communities are failing.  Often it doesn't come off like these groups tried  & failed, but that the writers are accusing these groups of purposefully  under performing for the non mainstream. 

They call foul for the way HIV strategies have been applied to Black, Hispanic or other groups.  They call for blame when failing to compensate for all the IV  drug users.  

Yes, these strategies have to be well developed, delivered & constantly modified.  Sometimes they won't succeed as well as intended.  But, it doesn't matter if the community is Mexican, Black or Purple Spotted Woozles, at some point these groups have to own up to their part of the issues & not just blame faceless programs.

Not taking responsibility for your well being is easy.  Blaming others is very easy.  Being accountable for you part in the situation can be a bitch.  But accountability & effort are necessary from all sides if  the fight against HIV is every going to get ahead.

Maybe this will be come off as being insensitive.  I'm fine with that.  Just call me Mr. Insensitive, but at least I told you the truth on this point.  

Cya...

Well, OK Then, Cold...

 

It's not as bright this morning & the weekend is going to be cold, overnights in the low 20s.  Looks like next weekend is going to do the same.  I know it's February, but I'm sick of the cold.  Today would've been my mother's birthday.  She was born on the same day as Lincoln.  When I was little, both Lincoln & Washington's birthdays were on the Calendar, now there's just President's Day.  

There are constantly articles about disparities between the medical situations of the mainstream population & other groups, especially those based on ethnicity, race, religion, ideology or socioeconomic class.  For some poor people, medical attention may be difficult to access or afford.  For the rest, it's something else.

Most often these articles refer to Black people.  I'm sure they have their reasons for avoiding conversations or treatment for HIV, COVID & other things.  The point is, it doesn't matter.  Without education, prevention, conversation & treatment these people are going to continue to be disproportionately affected by these illnesses.  There's nothing anyone outside  this community can do about it.  At this point, this is their fight.

That's all for no, take care.

Cya...

Insensitive Maybe...

  

Some may find me insensitive on this matter, but here we go.  I live in a rural area.  Until telemedicine came along, I had to drive over 120 miles to get to the nearest place that handled HIV.  There weren't & still aren't support groups/agencies in my area.  There is no special support for HIV here.  Yet, I got to my doctors, labs & took my meds.   It took a lot of effort on my part & friends, but it happened. 

I can understand when they say people in less developed  areas have a hard time getting treatment. There's the logistics, monies & other issues of the area to consider.  But here, in the US, especially in urban areas, there are options.

So, why is it I often read about Black & Hispanic populations being so behind in treatment?  It's most  often worse with males.  Still, many of them are  urban & should  have access.  They're just not taking  the help being offered.   That's not a medical issue, it's  a cultural problem.  That's something for a social  worker or someone else, not a doctor.  If someone doesn't want help, fine, but stop being a spreader. 

It doesn't matter what your gender, sex,  race, etc.. is.  If you are an adult, it's on you to make sure you get what you need to stay healthy.  If you let stigma impede your treatment, that's not on doctors or clinics.   Make a choice, you can be someone who's accepted & dying or you can live.

Cya...

This Group, That Group...

 

I see articles about the need for more study, funding & understanding for HIV & nearly every fringe or minority group with HIV; ethnic, trans, foreign, polka-dotted...  What bothers me is there are 2 groups that receive no where near the attention they should.  

1st, there are biologically born women.   I mean actual girls born with female reproductive systems.  They count for over half of the world's population, but only a small percentage of any medical research is done directly regarding them.  It's worse when it  comes to HIV/AIDS  studies.

Then there are the 50+ folks.  For  years now, we've known this is the largest group of people living with HIV.  The greying of HIV; those long-term survivors & frisky, risky elders.   Eww... no one wants to study old people.  

So back off all the clamor over the trendy fringe  groups & focus on the larger picture; actual women & those 50+.  You can't fix the issues regarding HIV in the ethnic & trans populations. Those are social psychological matters, not medical. 

Cya...

Ethnic, Poor, Drugs...

This article is about HIV rates in Saskatchewan, Canada.  They are higher than the national average.  Many of the + people are poor & indigenous.  Many are also IV drug users.   This is a good read.  It shows again how being fringe can increase your odds of contracting HIV.  It stresses the need for communication, testing & education.  Treatment only works if people know they need it & can access it.  

Cya...