Documentry Analysis Essay on Endgame: AIDS in Black America

Introduction

When the AIDS epidemic started in the 80s, it was mainly associated with white gay men. However, that was not entirely true. Black people during that time had also contracted the disease but it was little known and those who knew kept it to themselves. This scenario was due to the culture of secrecy. However, during that time HIV/AIDS was rapidly spreading among the black society. It peaked when drug abuse such as crack increased in the society. This was largely due to the sharing of needles. Currently, the black society makes about 13% of the US population, however, half the number of new HIV infections are within the black society. Besides, two-thirds of new female infection will be black and 70% of new infection among the youth will be black. The PBS Frontline documentary, Endgame: AIDS in Black America ("ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America - Transcript", 2018) discusses the cultural, social and political history of the black society that led to high HIV prevalence in the black society. They do interview various people with personal histories ranging from professionals and victims of the epidemic.

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Oakland

In the 80s, Oakland has a population of 45% African- Americans. On the other side of the bay bridge in San Francisco that has a population of 4% African -American. San Francisco had a community of gay people that were living positively. On the other hand, Oakland gay community was silent and stigmatized. Cases of HIV diagnosis in gay white men was known in San Francisco, however, no gay man in Oakland in the 80s had been diagnosed with HIV. This scenario was largely due to the following reasons. First, at that time, HIV was considered a white man`s infection. Secondly, the culture of silence among the black society ensured that no gay man would come out and declare his condition. Therefore, HIV infection among the black community in Oakland increased due to stigma and lack of information about the disease.

Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Theory

This theory dwells on information, motivation and behavioral skill and how they can lead to behavioral change. Information involves knowledge of a particular medical condition. Motivation involves the patient's attitude on adherence, the perceived social support on the behavior and perception of how other patients may behave. Finally, the behavioral skills are all about the patient having the tools to achieve that particular behavior. The black gay men in Oakland lacked information on HIV. Instead of identifying HIV as a sexually transmitted disease they identified it as a white gay man`s disease, therefore it was only specific to them Furthermore, the stigma of black gay men made it difficult to come out and state their sexual orientation. Therefore, there was no social support who came out and they were even considered to have been possessed by demons.

This situation of lack of proper information on HIV made people lack the real understanding of how HIV would affect the entire society. Proper awareness on the various means HIV can be transmitted should have been done immediately the first patient was diagnosed with HIV should have been. This would have prevented the idea that HIV is specific to one community.

Nel

Nel is a retired nurse, devout Christian who contracted HIV from her second husband. Nel`s husband did not disclose her HIV status before the got married. She only came to realize her husband status after months into the marriage. Although she had already started to feel sickly, she was not aware she had contracted HIV. During that time they had unprotected sex and having a test, she was confirmed to be HIV positive. Her discovery of the betrayal and that she was positive depressed her. She lost weight and could not even focus on her job.

Protection-Motivation Theory

This theory goes that behavioral change may be achieved by arousing an individual`s fear. Components of fear arousal are, the magnitude of danger the event has, the chances of the event happening and the efficiency of the protected response. Nel in this scenario did not anticipate the chances she would contract HIV from having unprotected sex with her husband. She trusted him and did not anticipate she would be putting her health in danger, therefore, she did not suggest they have protected sex or ask the get tested as a couple. This case of betrayal and eventually contracting HIV would have been avoided if she insisted had had themselves tested before indulging in any activity that would have left her infected. Therefore, even today, it is important for couples to know each other HIV status before having unprotected sex.

Jesse Brooks

Jesse Brooks is an HIV activist. He grew up in a homophobic society that was so religious. He is also gay. He grew up in Oakland when talking about HIV was rare because of silence and fear. He narrates how that fear made his family watch his elder brother die of AIDS. He also contracted HIV when there was a lot of stigma for people living with HIV. During that time there was also the mindset that the disease was specific to white gay men. The stigma of being gay is such a society drove him to indulge in drugs to release the pain. At this particular time, drug addicts were more susceptible to contract HIV. It is during this time that he contracted HIV.

Behavioral Learning Theory

This theory focuses on the external factors that affect the behavior of an individual.it is focused on the influence of pre-existing principles on behavior. In the case of Jesse Brooks, the stigma he received for being gay drove him to abuse drugs, therefore, exposing to the possibility of contracting HIV. He narrates that he had so much pain from the stigma he received because of his sexual orientation so he chose to use drugs as an avenue to release the pain. It is important to understand that we do not have the same sexual orientation we should not stigmatize an individual with a different sexual orientation. Awareness of how HIV can be transmitted such as the sharing of needles and protective sex should be carried out.

Tom and Keith

Tom and Keith were born already infected with HIV. They describe themselves as `bornies` because they were born infected. Keith is the last born in his family and the only one born with HIV. During his birth, his mum was not doing well and was into drugs, therefore, he was put into a foster home together with his siblings until his grandmother took them all in. Keith's mother died of HIV Doctors had told Keith`s family that Keith would not last more than three years. Keith`s grandmother always ensured that he did not feel like an outsider. He narrates how she ensured people were not afraid of him because he was infected. Tom`s mother also died of HIV/AIDS.

Health Belief Model

Health belief model goes that the perception of seriousness or susceptibility of an individual to a disease influences his/her perception of the threat of the disease. For instance, Tom and Keith were born in the 90s when the double epidemic of HIV and crack cocaine were at their peak. It is during this period that both their mothers contracted HIV. Keith`s grandmother narrates that Keith`s mother did not take care of herself and drugs got the better of her. The mothers of Tom and Keith did not perceive the seriousness and how they were making themselves susceptible to HIV by getting hooked on drugs. This scenario would have been avoided if the two mothers had anticipated that by getting into drugs they were exposing themselves to HIV and by extension their children.

Women

In the 1980s, the definition of AIDS was mainly related to men. Therefore, women were lacking services and benefits that men were getting in relation to HIV and therefore most of them were dying because of opportunistic diseases. Besides, no one knew how many women were infected since there was no means of the count. Therefore, women were dying because they lacked care and treatment. There was also a rise in the number of women infected who were in heterosexual relationships and were not into drugs. One of the reasons for this was the lack of men in the society because they were in prison. The few that were left, therefore, had the cushion of demanding unprotected sex.

Self-Cognitive Theory

Self-cognitive theory suggests that perceived control of outcome influences behavior change. Expected outcomes, positive or negative effects of the behavior, affect health behavior. Outcomes may be social such as social approval or disapproval. Therefore, the case of women in this documentary could have been avoided if the felt they had control over the outcome. However due to external factors such as a man having an upper hand in the mating game. There were external barriers that were placed such that women felt they had no control over the outcome. For instance, women had low self -belief regarding condom use, therefore, they continued to have unprotected sex despite exposing themselves to HIV.

Church

The church was very conservative in their approach to what the society was experiencing. One church regarded gays as to have been possessed by demons and was clearly against the idea of gay men. Another instance where the church showed they were conservative sis during the six-week counseling of Nel and her husband they avoided the question of HIV Aids. Pastor Jeffrey further narrates that they have missed the mark and accounts how the black church is the avenue which all social ills came through.

The Theory of Planned Behavior

This theory goes that behavioral control is the perceived ease to perform a certain behavior and is also a function of control beliefs. The church believes about gay men and HIV/AIDS made them take very strong and conservative stands on the issues. This scenario made it difficult for congregation members to discuss this issues. For instance, Nel`s husband was afraid to tell Nel about his HIV status because he feared she would leave him.

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson is a basketball legend that is very popular. Magic knew of his HIV status through his doctor. At that time, his wife was pregnant with their son. Just like everyone else at that time he felt that was a death sentence. When he came out in public about his status, he received isolation even from his colleagues and best friend. He was forced to retire from basketball because nobody was willing to work with him.

Communication Perspective

This theory goes that good communication between provider and client is vital in adherence. This communication can be improved through patient education and good healthcare worker skills. This theory relates to Magic`s scenario since it was the good communication between him and his doctors that made him aware of his condition and encouraged him to seek medical attention.

George W. Bush

George W. Bush is the former president of the United States of America. In 2003, the former president highlighted the toll HIV had taken in Africa and the Caribbean. He offered to provide aid worth fifteen billion dollars to help curb the epidemic in the two regions. Since the start of the aid, the United States of America has really helped change the narrative of HIV in the two regions.

Self-Regulatory Theory

This theory goes that people are motivated to avoid or treat illness. The fund from the United States of America has been largely successful. It had a great reception because of willingness to fight and treat HIV. Despite various culture on how to go about chronic diseases, the underlying motivation to solve the problem of HIV made it easy to incorporate the new medicine and technologies in Africa and the Caribbean.

Prison

Because of the crack cocaine epidemic and eventually rise in crime and violence, the government established strict laws to deal with the situation. Therefore most men were arrested and sent to prison. During that...