It is in our belief that global health matters to Americans and the world at large. This is for reasons that may not be directly understood, but there are nevertheless very real explanations and proof to the essential of global health issues in disease. For example, rising incidences of diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB are the result of increasing poverty and political unpredictability in many countries. This in turn has political and economic consequences worldwide.
Some north African countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somali exhibit high prevalence of HIV. It is significant to review health policies and development of the regions. Those involved in the creation of public health policies pertaining to the reduction of HIV spreading, need to look beyond the relationship between poverty and HIV. It is understood that the relationships between poverty and HIV are far from humble and unswerving. Likewise, there are more complex forces at work than just the effects of poverty alone. Indeed, many of the non-poor individuals in Africa have adopted and pursued life styles, which uncovered them from HIV infection—and with all the social and economic consequences it necessitates.
Additionally, an article from Cohen (n.d) stated the two bi-causal interactions, which needed to be understood by those involved in policy and programme development. They are:
- The relationship between poverty and HIV/AIDS — which includes the longitudinal and socio-economic distribution of HIV infection in African populations and those of 3rd countries; and consideration of poverty-related factors, which affected household and community coping capacities.
- The relationship between HIV/AIDS and poverty –to understand the processes through which the experience of HIV and AIDS by households and communities leads to poverty intensification.
Cohen, D. (n.d.). POVERTY AND HIV/AIDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. Retrieved from http://library.unesco-iicba.org/English/HIV_AIDS/cdrom%20materials/Poverty.htm
