A most recent global statistic, states that 36.7 million people are living with HIV and 30% don't know their status. Besides the fact that 1.8 million of these people are children living in South Asia and Africa, most of these children are being infected by their HIV-positive infected mothers through pregnancy, breastfeeding, or childbirth (Avert Global HIV & Aids). I am interested in exploring HIV- infected children population (ideally between infants to teens) and the health care access and engagement among HIV infected mothers and prenatal care. I will be analyzing areas of interest revolving around multiple preventing factors like HIV awareness, medication and nutrients available, and accessibility to appropriate health care services (such as, prenatal care, screenings, and testings)

     Gavin, Adams, Hartmann, Benedict, and Chireau (2004) analyzed racial and ethnic disparities that exists in selected prenatal services across states in the U.S. By conducting odd ratios between the health service of interest within 3 minority groups (Black non-hispanics, hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders), unexplainable racial and ethnic disparities were found in initiation and use of both routine and specialized prenatal services for these mothers.  

     The main disparities can be seen through a disconnect of the health services available and the mutual relation between such services and active women involved in their health care. I assume my observations in further studying will be similar to those of Gavin et al. (2004) due to psychosocial state of vulnerable populations and cultural indifferences present in India. Gopakumar, Bhat, Joseph, and Shetty (2017) assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with HIV in southern India. When assessing 144 children undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART), results showed good physical and psychosocial health. However, the number of boys and children raised in foster care, was significantly lower on the HRQoL score scale. This however, not affecting ART treatment results. Their findings reflect the importance of family-centered care for children living with HIV.

     I would like to further my investigation on this matter while in India, by conducting a qualitative analysis on how accessible women are to prenatal/health care and resources available to children with HIV. Followed by this, I'd like to view quantitative factors that express how active these services and resources are being utilized within these populations, all to be able to measure efficacy of such services provided. Certain questions to direct towards affected mothers could be, "How easy is it for you to get health care?" or "What are some services you are aware of, that you and your child are entitled to?". 

     I am intrested in this specific topic because I want to see what exactly are the barriers between accessing health care for these mothers and children, and why such barriers exist among all discussed factors. In the future, I plan on going to graduate school and learning about this topic among different cultures and individuals. My goal would be to then implement correct treatment or correct medical provision by understanding more in depth such socio-economic statuses, and other disparities  in a community or specific group. In India, it will be of a challenge to  account for all areas and groups or populations undergoing the same health issues, but I am confident in the corporate change that it will provoke for the communities we will be privileged to reach to. 

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