BASIC FACTS ON HIV What is HIV? H -uman Found only in humans Transmitted among humans Preventable by humans I -mmunodefiency Body lacks ability to fight off infections V -irus Type of germ Lives and reproduces in body cells 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 2 AIDS A -cquired; received, not inherited (does not run in families) I -mmuno; protected from (in this case the system protects the body from disease) D -eficiency, - a lack of S-yndrome; – a group of symptoms or diseases 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 3 HIV IS FOUND IN BODY FLUIDS Semen Breast milk Blood Vaginal 7/31/2021 fluid Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 4 How HIV is passed on? During unprotected (skin to skin) sex (anal, vaginal or oral) Contact with HIV infected blood or blood products Sharing IV drug needles of HIV positive people From HIV positive mother to child During breast feeding 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 5 You CANNOT get HIV from… Tears Saliva Sweat Urine of an HIV infected person 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 6 Window Period When a person gets infected it may take 6 weeks or up to 3 months before antibodies to HIV are detected in the blood The HIV test looks for antibodies. When these antibodies are detected the person is diagnosed HIV positive A person can be positive and the test shows negative because the test was done during the window period 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 7 Why HIV rates not going down? Sex at an early age Little life-skills and sex education Little condom use Multiple partners Stigma and Discrimination Sex for money or sex for .....things Substance abuse: Ganja, cocaine, alcohol Men having sex with men & homophobia Gender inequity and gender roles 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 8 STI and HIV – The Link Persons with a history of STIs are more likely to get HIV because: persons with STIs are more likely to have sores and small breaks in the skin and lining of their genitals. HIV can more easily enter the body through these breaks. 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 9 STI and HIV – The Link You can get an STI by having sex without a condom, with an infected person. At the same time, you could be getting HIV which is also contracted by having unprotected sex. 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 10 ALL STIs are Preventable Most STI’s are treatable But HIV/AIDS CANNOT BE CURED 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 11 Prevention 7/31/2021 Treatment Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 12 Prevention Talk with partner about HIV Use a condom with your regular and nonregular clients, and partners every time you have sex Reduce the number of main partners Get tested. Know your status 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 13 Who is most at risk for HIV? Anybody having sex without a condom. People with more than 1 partner who don’t use a condom during sex People whose sex partner have sex with other partners without using a condom 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 14 How You DON’T Get HIV You CANNOT get HIV by hugging, touching, living with or caring for someone with HIV, shaking hands or kissing. You CANNOT get HIV from eating out of the same plate or cup or utensils that an HIV positive person uses. 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 15 Early Signs & Symptoms of HIV Fever Fatigue Night Sweats Loss of Appetite Diarrhea Swollen Lymph Glands Remember these are symptoms of many other illnesses. 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 16 REMEMBER You CANNOT tell by looking if someone has HIV. An individual can look and feel well for many years and be HIV positive. The HIV positive person can pass the virus on to someone else. 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 17 Getting on with Life 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 18 Can YOU support someone living with HIV? 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 19 What have we learnt? 7/31/2021 Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme 20
