Research Specialty Care Essay

Research Specialty Care Essay

HIV/AIDS Specialty Care for Pediatrics

HIV/AIDS infection is still a common healthcare problem despite all the success there has been in the fight against the disease. Over the recent years, there has been a significant reduction in the number of children diagnosed with the disease due to the several measures that have been put in place, especially in the infancy period of the child’s life. Additionally, advanced healthcare makes it possible to ensure that HIV positive children stay healthy, and avoid any exposure that may be harmful to their overall well-being. This paper seeks to focus on the specialty care given to various pediatric groups that may be susceptible to HIV infection or any other complications associated with the disease.

Group 1

The first group in pediatrics that requires HIV/AIDS specialty care are the children who are susceptible to perinatal transmission. Perinatal transmission refers to the mother to child transmission that may occur during the periods of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding (Vrazo et al., 2018). During these stages of the infant’s life, the parents and healthcare professionals are solely responsible for ensuring that the child is kept safe and healthy by taking the necessary precautions. Over the years, the healthcare community has come up with several intervention strategies that have had a significant impact on reducing the HIV infection rate among infants.

The CDC recommends several intervention strategies that pregnant and lactating women can take to make sure that the child is not subject to any form of infection. The first thing is for the mother to visit a healthcare professional who is aware of the situation regularly. Secondly, the mother should take the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs prescribed to them faithfully (Violari et al., 2019). ARVs help to prevent the multiplication of the virus in the bloodstream, hence minimizing the possibility of a transmission from the mother to the child. Thirdly, the parent should administer the ARVs to the infant in the first six weeks after birth. The fourth recommended strategy is to avoid breastfeeding or pre-chewing the child’s food. Even if the mother’s viral load is low due to the ARVs, it does not eliminate the possibility of transmission. All these measures help in ensuring that the child, born to a HIV positive mother, stays healthy and free from infection.

Group 2

The second significant category of children that require special care is those living with the virus. Most of the children that fall in this category tend to have acquired the infection at birth and require special programs that can help them keep themselves healthy while protecting those around them from possible infection. A child diagnosed with this condition requires support not only from his or her family but from the community as well. This is due to the fact that the child will have to deal with a variety of stressors such as isolation, stigmatization, discrimination, possible family instability, as well as the death of a parent or caregiver due to the virus; all of which may make it extremely difficult for him or her to live with the condition. Therefore, the specialty care program needs to not only cater to the needs of the child but those of the family and society as well, if the child is to live a productive and successful life despite having the virus.

The specialty care provided should ensure that the interventions, strategies, and programs designed for the child include the essential services such as the education, psychosocial support, health, and nutrition as well as the child protection needed (Essajee et al., 2017). The first important and most essential of the services provided in specialty care is education. Both the parents and the healthcare professional should take the time to inform the child about the virus. Some of the information they should include is the various ways of virus transmission, the need to take their ARVs consistently, as well as how they can take care of themselves not only in the home but also when playing with friends. Having this crucial information makes it possible for the child, however young to try and grasp the complexities associated with having to live with the virus. Additionally, giving the child the right kind of education on the subject makes it possible for them to live a responsible and normal life despite the infection. The healthcare professionals also need to ensure that the child’s parents understand the intricacies associated with taking care of an HIV positive child (Essajee et al., 2017). Otherwise, they may find the task a bit too difficult, especially since it requires a lot of financial input. The specialty care program should enable the parents to prepare themselves financially and emotionally for all the things they need to do to support their child effectively. Also, it should make it possible for them to seek out the right sources of help whenever they need it.

The second critical component of the specialty care program should be to ensure that the child has the necessary psychosocial support. Having the virus affects every dimension of an individual’s life from the social, physical, spiritual, and even psychological (Essajee et al., 2017). An HIV positive child should be in a position to access counseling and social support from their healthcare providers, as a way to help in easing the burden that comes with having to live with the virus. This is especially true if the child lives in a society that discriminates against those living with the virus. The child may have an issue making friends in the community, therefore leading them to feel shunned and stressed by the happenings around, especially if they do not understand why they are facing stigma. Having regular counseling sessions prevents the child from developing serious mental problems, while also giving the child a chance to speak out and share their feelings about the situation. Additionally, having someone to talk to allows the child to come to terms with their condition, which gives him or her the ability to live a more productive life irrespective of the societal views and opinions concerning the matter. The counseling sessions also give the child the tools they need to combat the stigma and discrimination they face from their families or the society they live in.

Food and nutrition is another critical part of the specialty care program. Children living with the virus tend to require different dietary elements than that of the other children, depending on the stage of infection they might be experiencing at that particular time. A routine assessment of the child’s status should be a priority to ensure that the food they get fits into the recommended nutritional levels. In the case of infants, their height and weight are crucial health indicators that parents and the respective healthcare professionals should pay attention to (Violari et al., 2019). Otherwise, the healthcare provider linked to the family must come up with a meal plan that not only ensures the child gets all the nutrients they need but is also family-friendly. This means that the meal should include the family’s preferences while also being affordable and easy to acquire within the locality. All the family members need to realize that eating right not only boosts the child’s defense system against the infection but also helps prevent any health complications linked to the virus or any of the side effects caused by taking HIV treatments.

The fourth factor that should be addressed in specialty care is health. There are several treatment therapies available in the market currently, all of which have had success in helping those living with the virus to manage it effectively. One of the commonly used therapies is Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), which is also recommended for use by children. It involves administering a highly potent drug cocktail that helps in suppressing the growth of the virus in the body. However, despite its effectiveness, it does have multiple side effects on the child. Some of which include nausea and fatigue. It is also important for the healthcare provider to take note of any symptoms or other health complications that the child may be exhibiting (Abrams et al., 2017). This is because the child is highly prone to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, which can also serve as an indicator of the stage of infection that the patient is in. identifying these health complications allows the healthcare professional to adjust the treatment and nutrition plan to suit the needs of the child, hence helping him or her to live a long life.  

The last important component needed in the care program is child protection. Despite having a wealth of information available to society, there are still incidences recorded of children having to deal with abuse, neglect, and violence due to their HIV status. Providing the necessary protection to these children is a priority even if it means that the healthcare providers should take the child from the parents. Providing a safe environment for the child is just as important as ensuring that they take their medication faithfully, and should be part of the specialty care program. Additionally, those taking care of the child should always ensure that justice is served if anyone is violent towards them as a result of the stigma and oppression linked to the disease.

Conclusion

Children living with the disease tend to have a lot of issues to deal with, especially if they live in a society that chooses to stigmatize them. It is important to note that providing these children with a good life is not only the responsibility of the parents but that of the healthcare provider dealing with the child as well. Hence the need for comprehensive and effective specialty care from infancy till adulthood when they are in apposition to take adequate care of themselves. Irrespective of the HIV status, each child needs to have an equal opportunity to achieve their goals and dreams, while living in a loving, caring, and accommodative family as well as community setting.

References

Research Specialty Care Essay