Chris Owino
Department of Health Science, University of the People
HS 3814: Community Health
Dr. Michele Fletcher
May 22nd,2025.
Five Community Ethical Principles
Among the ethical standards that communities should take into account are a number of
significant ones. In communities, it is essential to uphold the following five ethical
principles:-
Autonomy and Respect
The significance of people's autonomy in making decisions about their health and well-
being is emphasized by this principle. Respecting their values, choices, and preferences
is part of it.
Beneficence
The goal of this value is to advance the welfare and well-being of both people and the
community at large. It entails doing things for other people that improve their health and
standard of living.
Non-Maleficence
The duty to do no harm is emphasized by the value of non-maleficence. It is avoiding
activities that could hurt people or have detrimental effects on the community.
Justice
This virtue prioritizes equality and fairness. It entails making certain that everyone in
the community, irrespective of their circumstances or background, has fair access to
resources, opportunities, and benefits.
Confidentiality
This value highlights how crucial it is to safeguard people's privacy and maintain the
secrecy of their personal information. It entails protecting people's privacy and
confidence when gathering and disseminating their medical records.
AIDS Information Gathering and Dissemination in the Community
Respect for autonomy and secrecy must be given first priority while gathering and
disseminating information on AIDS in the community. To gather and disseminate
information on AIDS in your community, follow this comprehensive plan:-
Data collection
Before collecting someone's data, make sure they understand the purpose and possible
usage of the information by getting their informed consent. Utilize de-identified or
anonymous data whenever feasible to preserve people's privacy. Gather AIDS-related
health status data (HIV status, risk behaviors, healthcare access, etc.) and demographic
data (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.). Make that the techniques used for gathering data are
inclusive and culturally sensitive.
Data Security and Storage
Use access controls and encryption to safeguard the gathered data from unwanted
access. Observe applicable data protection laws and rules to protect the confidentiality
and integrity of personal data. To find and fix vulnerabilities, perform audits and upgrade
security measures on a regular basis.
Data Sharing
Provide relevant parties, including community organizations, researchers, and public
health agencies, with aggregated and anonymised data. Put people's privacy first by
making sure that no personally identifiable information is shared. Get the required
clearances and permissions before sharing data, following the law and moral principles.
Community Engagement
Engage the community by allowing them to participate in the choices made about the
gathering and exchange of data. Inform the public about the significance of gathering
data for public health objectives and the safeguards in place to preserve their privacy.
Respond to community members' queries or worries about the gathering and sharing of
data.
By implementing this approach, you can respect moral principles and safeguard
people's right to privacy while gathering and disseminating information on AIDS in your
community. For further details on ethical concerns in public health, I will not forget to
consult the resource that was supplied for further references in future.
