In my medical terminology class we have discussions that tie into the parts of the body we are learning. This unit we are studying the male and female reproductive systems and obstetrics and neonatology. Our discussion is about HIV/AIDS. The topic is listed like this: "HIV/AIDS has become epidemic in the world. Discuss some of the medical terms that have become part of our general vocabulary related to this disease. Does the age or gender of the person you are talking with affect what words you use to explain or discuss HIV/AIDS?" We are to post our opinion on the subject, then respond to at least 3 of our class mates. I seem to agree with most of their points. I agree that education is key, and that it needs to be done early. I, however, don't agree on the age that some of them have decided is best to start.
Here is the main discussion that I had a hard time reading.
Unit 3 Discussion
I believe the age of a child or young adult, when discussing the disease and the prevention of the HIV/AIDS problems is everything. Using some of the words such as:Viral load white cell count T-4 cells Window period HIV AIDSWestern blot trachea lungs candidiasis PneumoniaDidn’t mean much to me I had to look every term up.According to a paper from the CDC HIV/AIDS fact sheet educating our young, needs to begin as early as 8 years old.The http://www.globalchange.com/truth-about-aids states that worldwide, pneumonia or pneumocystis carinii are factors of HIV but many of these deaths go unreported, in some rare cases a bronchoscope is used to locate germs hiding in the lung if the Doctor suspects the person to have died of HIV/AIDS.
Dawn Strauss-Berta
11 Aug 09 11:47 AM MST
Hi Jacqueline,I agree with you. Education children as young as 8 years old is a good idea. Do you have any suggestions on how we would do this?Thank you for the link, but when I click on it, the information was not there. Does it work for you?Dr. Dawn
Jacqueline Otero
12 Aug 09 1:48 PM MST
Sorry about the link:http://www.globalchange.com/truth-about-aids-chapter-3.htmis the correct link.another link for children ishttp://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/std/hiv.html#Has some great info on HIV/AIDSI would create a story book with pictures and pronunciations on the big words that go hand in hand with HIV/AIDSthe kidshealth web site above has a picture of a T-cells and how to pronounce immune (ih-myoon), and several other giant words in such a way that children can understand, and pronounce.
Dawn Strauss-Berta
13 Aug 09 2:54 PM MST
Thanks for the links. Great idea with the storybook suggestion!Dr. Dawn
Michelle Giroux
13 Aug 09 1:28 PM MST
There are plenty of ways that we can educate young kids like 8 year olds about this. Like in health class they should discuss it and also do research on it. Maybe if they see pictures and hear that people die from theses diseases they might think twice about having unprotected sex.I know 8 year old is a young age but you never know kids be having sex at like 13. So it's good to educate them young
Dawn Strauss-Berta
13 Aug 09 2:55 PM MST
Hi Michelle,I agree, it is a good idea to education them young. How would you go about explaining it to an 8 year old? Would you teach them any of the terminology?Thanks,Dr. Dawn
Michelle Giroux
14 Aug 09 7:15 AM MST
You can teach the 8 year olds the terminology. And you could also have them do research projects, and some activities that can teach them about the diseases.
Dawn Strauss-Berta
15 Aug 09 8:14 PM MST
Hi Michelle,I really like the idea of having them do activities to help them learn about the diseases.Dr. Dawn
Rosa Crumpley
18 Aug 09 8:56 AM MST
I think 8 is a bit young. At that age, they are just starting to learn the technical terms about their body parts. I agree with educating them, but I think it needs to be age appropriate and tailored to the specific child. I have a seven and a half year old. I teach him what I can. He is a smart kids, but still very young and innocent. I think that telling him all the facts at this age would be information overload.I do agree that kids need to be educated at a young age though.
Danielle Jones
15 Aug 09 5:34 PM MST
I agree we should start teaching them at a young age. i think they should have it in school too.
LATASHA SEWELL
11 Aug 09 6:29 PM MST
Jacqueline, I agree that discussing HIV/AIDS to try to prevent people from getting it should start at a young age. If people educate their children at the age of eight it would help stop the spread of the disease.
Jacqueline Otero
13 Aug 09 1:53 PM MST
How do we get the message to our young people, to stop look and listen?That cool is not being the first one to act on a dare, and that it is ok to say oooo I don't want to get that disease! It looks ucky!
Am I just living in a sheltered world. I think that it sounds crazy to not only have the birds and the bees conversation with an eight year old, but give them all the details of STDs at that age as well? Also, would a second grader really have the know how and motivation to do some big research project on the subject?
5 comments:
Yikes! I can't imagine having that particular conversation with an 8-year-old! I mean, if they're asking about the birds and the bees, you can give them age-appropriate information and maybe work in some of the protection stuff, but really, all the complicated terminology and details too? That seems like too much.
You know what's sad? The fact that these days we have to have these conversations with our kids sometimes this young because they hear it in school. There are a lot of parents that don't have "G" rated homes, not to mention "PG" or even "PG-13"... it's sad. I hate that I've had to explain words like "sex" to my son, who at the time was the ripe old age of FIVE, simply because he heard some kid at school saying it. That's why I'm not having kids. LOL
I think it's all a load of crap. First of all, 8 is way too young and second of all, if you want your child to be safe, teach your daughters to keep their legs closed and your sons to keep it in their pants. sheesh
Hey Rosa! Interesting topic! I think, as is the case with so many situations, it depends on the kid, the parent, and the situation. Kids who are world aware know that HIV/AIDS is out there because of the epidemics. Discussing this disease does not necessarily mean having the birds and bees talk with our little ones. Being aware of all the means of transmission (especially blood transfusion and drug use)can allow age appropriate discussion if it's done properly. My kids know, and have known, about it because my uncle died of AIDS when I was 18. I waited until puberty to get into techinical terms with my eldest. We each know our kids, and I feel it is the responsibility of the parents to decide how much to say...and when.
Holy cow!
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