Pediatric HIV transmission and healthcare challenges in the United States

Children with AIDS

Population Demographics

The Centers for Disease Control estimate there were 217 children with HIV below the age of 13, in 2010 in the 46 states. The report indicates that seventy-five percent of these were infected prenatal. By the end of 2009, approximately 10,834 people diagnosed with HIV at the age of 13 and below, were living with confidential, long-term name-based HIV reporting. Of the prenatal infections, 63% were from the African/Black community, 22% were Latino/Hispanics, and 13% were whites. The CDC estimates that the number of new children infected will increase by 30%. This is because the number of women giving birth in the U.S., with HIV increase at a rate of 30% in 2006. New York has the highest number of children with AIDS in any area of the U.S., as half of the children diagnosed with HIV / AIDS in the country reside in the area. This number is highest among New York's impoverished patients, intravenous users, and their children. The New York area becomes a central area of focus for this report since many of the infected adults in the area are heterosexual. This implies that in NY's metropolitan area, more children have AIDS than any area in the nation. Since the chances of children with parents infected by AIDS to be infected with the virus is high.

Changing Demographics on Healthcare Market

The average lifetime cost of HIV treatment is $367,134 per individual, putting a strain on the healthcare system and healthcare coverage. This is because many of the under-insured and un-insured with HIV attend municipal hospitals for treatment. The Affordable Care Act promised to cover people and children with pre-existing conditions like HIV (Schackman et al., 2006). However, this system will be under strain from the increase of children with HIV nationwide. In New York, the number of newly infected children is reducing especially among those infected through prenatal stage. This is associated with the city's prenatal HIV injection treatments to prevent mother to child infection during pregnancy, at birth, and nursing stage. This reduction in numbers implies a reduced strain on the health care market. In New York, municipal hospitals, like Harlem Hospital, take up the largest cost of caring for HIV patients. The reduction in the number of children with AIDS implies a reduction of strain on healthcare costs.

Key Healthcare Challenges associated with the Population

The main challenge for children is lack of prenatal, neonatal antiretroviral, and intrapartum from a healthcare center. This leads to infection of HIV, making prenatal care a main source of prenatal HIV infection. Children at risk are those whose mothers cannot access health care early in pregnancy to start prenatal care, from reasons like un-insurance, under-insurance, or toxicity from drug abuse (Peters, et al., 2008). The second challenge for children with HIV is a lack of follow up to a healthcare center to receive antiretroviral. This is a challenge for children under the age of 13 who require the guidance of parents or guardians in attending health centers or receiving healthcare. According to Peters et al. (2008) lack of prenatal care in New York, area is associated with maternal illicit use of drugs. Given such factors, children living with AIDS require in-home healthcare accessible through community-based and outreach programs.

Marketing and Services needs for Children with AIDS

The demographics and key challenges imply that the healthcare system needs to market the need and existence of prenatal HIV surveillance. Marketing will promote the service among parents and caregivers, to prevent mother-to-child infection, identify and mitigate factors that lead to prenatal infection. Marketing will inform the public on the availability of these services, and their location in federal, state, and local health centers. The other concern is for the marketing set is to educate the public that exposing children to infections of the virus is fatal. This is because close to 70% of children who had an AIDS diagnosis in 2003 have died, while 50% of adults with a diagnosis in the same year, are still living. AIDS is fatal among children and kills them within two years, leaving their parents. Moreover, the need for marketing to cater for the healthcare needs of this demographic arises from the high numbers that rely on public hospitals. This is more so among poor communities that cannot afford AIDS treatment, and have little or no insurance cover.

Individual Patient, Community, and Society's participation in addressing challenges

The community needs to arise and protect children from hazardous situations that expose them to AIDS infection. This will imply drawing social services and community efforts and resources towards educating drug addicts, the poor, and people at risk about self-protection, and prenatal treatment. The society also needs to poor resources into the care of children with AIDS, especially those at risk from living with abusive homes, and parents that abuse drugs. This is because these children do not frequently visit healthcare centers or public hospitals for treatment from negligence. On the other hand, individuals can assist caring for children with AIDS especially those within their neighborhoods and communities. They can educate parents and caregivers at risk to protect their children and prolong life by visiting hospitals, taking prenatal HIV treatment, and living healthy and positive. This assistance is especially needed in communities and areas with high number of adults that use narcotic drugs intravenously. Individual efforts are also required in local healthcare centers, and community centers as volunteer services.