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298579
Learning from Systems: A Cuban Approach to HIV/AIDS
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Molly Loughran
,
College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO
The Cuban government’s effective and long-lasting response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic has allowed the country to boast the lowest HIV prevalence in the Caribbean at 0.03%, one-eleventh of the prevalence recorded in the United States. How can we utilize the Cuban government’s response model to improve future HIV/AIDS programs as well as other infectious disease epidemic responses in the United States? A full literature review was conducted and collected information was analyzed for strengths in the Cuban health care system that influenced their low HIV/AIDS prevalence. The Cuban health care system boasts a high ratio of primary care providers, strong HIV testing techniques, and meticulous data records of HIV/AIDS patients. Cuba was confronted by HIV/AIDS under a communist dictatorship as well as a trade embargo that has isolated the country from new technologies and treatments. As a result, American media and interest often overlook Cuban news and few public health professionals or students understand the challenges Cuba has overcame as they became a model for healthcare today. The comparative systems analysis between the Cuban and American response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic will provide significant insight into the design and implementation of future infectious disease pandemics. Specifically, it will provide a model from which local, state, and federal government public health agencies can build an effective, community-based response to an outbreak of infectious disease. Additionally, this model can be applied to health reform in the United States, particularly to the allocation of services to HIV/AIDS patients.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health
Learning Objectives:
Compare government’s response to HIV/AIDS in Cuba and the United States.
Identify strengths of the Cuban healthcare system that supports their low prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
Assess the Cuban health care system considering the challenges and obstacles the country has faced both socially and politically throughout the past sixty years.
Evaluate methods of HIV testing, HIV/AIDS patient case management, and data compilation of HIV/AIDS medical information.
Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, Health Systems Transformation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As an Honors Public Health student, I have completed an independent study project that fulfills my Capstone requirements in comparative global health systems. This research has included presentations and three interactive workshops for faculty and students at Saint Louis University. My public health studies have included multiple immersion and research experiences in Central America, and studies in Latin American culture. My research has been mentored by Beth Schwaab, Director of Global Health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
