This class turned out to be a lot more than I thought it would be. I went into it expecting a standard series of powerpoint lectures on how AIDS works and the various types of STIs that exist out there, and though we did get plenty of this, we also got to learn about different types of prevention methods, various cultural stigmas, and got to listen to several guest speakers. For our final project I also got to learn about Tuberculosis, something I didn’t think would be covered at all in this class. I am pleased with my overall experience of H 312!
All of the items covered in this course were relevant to some extent, but some were probably more useful than others when it comes to college students. The most useful information was probably learning all the ways AIDS and different STIs can be transmitted, as well as learning the symptoms/warning signs and how to treat/prevent the ailments. I say this because many of the STIs we’ve studied in class are more prevalent in young adults than in any other age group; hearing about these sorts of issues was relevant because most of us fall into that category. On the other hand, learning about social stigmas in other regions of the world was probably not so beneficial to most of us at Oregon State, just because most of us are not planning on going to Africa or India any time soon and therefore are not directly affected. Though this information was very interesting, it was not as useful to us as students, at least for the time being.
Overall, the course was taught in a style that worked wonderfully. I really enjoyed listening to the guest lectures, and I’m finding I tend to work well when working on projects in small groups. The blog assignment was also a very creative way to get us thinking; I would at least keep that going for next year, if nothing else. There were only a couple things about the course I feel could be changed, and they are easy fixes. The first has to do with the amount of reading assigned—it was slightly extensive and I feel like I didn’t learn as much from the textbook as I did from lecture and from the guest speakers. In addition, having blanks to fill in on the slides during lecture does make us pay attention, but it’s kind of a challenge if you forget to print out the slides or if you don’t have access to a printer and then try to get the notes from blackboard later. Again, these are minor changes; in general I thoroughly enjoyed the course!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Hey, Bob!
Before listening to what Bob Skinner had to say, I already had somewhat of an idea as to what it takes to treat HIV/AIDS thanks to the media, parents, teachers, and peers. However, before meeting Bob I had never met anyone who is HIV-positive (to my knowledge, at least) and was captivated by his personal story! I knew treating AIDS is expensive, but little did I know one little pill can cost $25 or more, nor was I aware of all the different symptoms one can experience with treatment medication. It’s scary, really! It was good to know there are options for the ones who wind up with HIV and don’t have the resources to take care of themselves.
I think Bob was an extreme example of what can happen when you make certain choices and don’t protect yourself. There are many more men out there like him with similar lifestyles, and you can bet Bob isn’t the only one to have unknowingly contracted HIV and passed it on to other people. His story is probably more commonly heard in the more advanced regions of the world—such as the US and Europe—where homosexuality is more widely accepted and where most of the infected have access to proper treatment. In other countries like those in Africa and Southeast Asia, treatment is not as prevalent for those who may need it, and neither are the proper education systems that aim to prevent spreading of the disease altogether. Relatively speaking, Bob is lucky!
At one point Bob mentioned that in rural areas, HIV is more commonly-spread via heterosexual intercourse than in larger, more populated areas. This is in part due to the fact that many rural schools are still teaching abstinence-only sex education to their students, and because of this, the kids aren’t learning how to protect themselves from what’s out there. In addition, many smaller towns tend to be more conservative; thus, talk of condom use and the like is often considered taboo. Education is the first step to prevention—if it’s missing, how are we supposed to ascend?!
People who live in rural regions may have a more difficult time treating a disease like AIDS just because it is so much more expensive. More often than not, the residents of these areas do not have as much money as those who live in large cities, and therefore they struggle with paying off medical bills. In addition, it’s not uncommon for rural areas to have less access to media sources than larger, more modern areas do; this may be leading to more people in rural regions not knowing they are infected and “innocently” affecting someone else. This is definitely a problem! Again, education is key.
Thank you, Bob, for your insight!
I think Bob was an extreme example of what can happen when you make certain choices and don’t protect yourself. There are many more men out there like him with similar lifestyles, and you can bet Bob isn’t the only one to have unknowingly contracted HIV and passed it on to other people. His story is probably more commonly heard in the more advanced regions of the world—such as the US and Europe—where homosexuality is more widely accepted and where most of the infected have access to proper treatment. In other countries like those in Africa and Southeast Asia, treatment is not as prevalent for those who may need it, and neither are the proper education systems that aim to prevent spreading of the disease altogether. Relatively speaking, Bob is lucky!
At one point Bob mentioned that in rural areas, HIV is more commonly-spread via heterosexual intercourse than in larger, more populated areas. This is in part due to the fact that many rural schools are still teaching abstinence-only sex education to their students, and because of this, the kids aren’t learning how to protect themselves from what’s out there. In addition, many smaller towns tend to be more conservative; thus, talk of condom use and the like is often considered taboo. Education is the first step to prevention—if it’s missing, how are we supposed to ascend?!
People who live in rural regions may have a more difficult time treating a disease like AIDS just because it is so much more expensive. More often than not, the residents of these areas do not have as much money as those who live in large cities, and therefore they struggle with paying off medical bills. In addition, it’s not uncommon for rural areas to have less access to media sources than larger, more modern areas do; this may be leading to more people in rural regions not knowing they are infected and “innocently” affecting someone else. This is definitely a problem! Again, education is key.
Thank you, Bob, for your insight!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
