Living a long healthy life is something that every person tries to accomplish. However, there is always a chance that disease will strike when you least expect. Sometimes the hardest part of any illness is not the disease itself, but rather having access to adequate medical aid and overcoming the mental stress associated with the ailment. For diseases like HIV, that stress can come in the form of different stigmas related to having the disease. In an area like Waller county access to medical aid is scarce, but one professor believes Prairie View A&M University could provide the area with some much- needed assistance. Dr. Mark Tschaepe an Assistant Professor of Philosophy, at Prairie View is collaborating with the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center conducting scientifically valid and unbiased research concerning HIV in Waller County.
Dr. Tschaepe’s research focuses on rural Americans having limited access to proper HIV health care and the vast need of practicians with training in this area to practice in rural areas to provide assistance for those in need. Such problems include accessibility to testing and treatment. According to Dr. Tschaepe’s research, many individuals with HIV lack the transportation needed to receive proper care. On the other hand, his research revealed that education is a key component as well, as many people do not have a clear understanding of the disease and how it’s contracted. There are still misguided stigmas about the disease, as many people assume a person’s level of sexual activity or preference when they encounter an individual and learn about their diagnosis. The stigma associated with those assumptions can cause an individual to internalize those stigmas and lead to mental health problems such as depression or the individual refusal to seek proper medical care. Regardless gender, race, or sexual orientation, the stigmas associated with a disease like HIV can cause mental stress and make it difficult to receive proper care.
Texas as a state was ranked the 3rd highest in 2015 for the number of HIV diagnosis. This problem is especially prevalent in southern rural areas such as Waller County. According to research, in the south, patients affected with HIV-3 (AIDS) has the lowest survival rate in the country. Some of the main challenges people face when seeking medical care are lack of transportation, HIV-related stigmas, and poverty. In a 2010 health assessment by the federal Health Resources & Services Administration, Waller County was designated as Health Professional Shortage Area. Resources in the area have also been gravely underutilized such as Prairie View (PV), for example. The University is as a testing site, and so far there has not been a location identified in the county as a treatment center by the Texas Department of State Health. Proper resource management is key to eliminating the problem of HIV and other diseases in rural areas.
So at the end of the day, the question becomes, what can we do? How do we use the information gathered from research to help Prairie View service the Waller County area? According to Dr. Tschaepe, there are several aspects of the relationship between Prairie View and the Waller County.
In an interview, he stated “Prairie View needs to be viewed by the community as a resource and not a separate entity. This will create another place where individuals dealing with HIV can receive help.”
Long-term goals for his research include working on issues to help facilitate bridging the “moat” that has divided PVAMU from Waller County as well as securing research grants for further work addressing health care in the area. Research much also be expanded to include other issues such as transportation and mental health. Ultimately, the collaboration will be significant. If Prairie View can join forces with community researchers and stakeholders, tools can be developed and implemented to help with HIV testing, treatment, accessibility, and education.
Raymond Thomas
CAHS Student