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
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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
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HIV IS FOUND IN BODY
FLUIDS
 Semen
 Breast
milk
 Blood
 Vaginal
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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
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You CANNOT get HIV from…

Tears

Saliva

Sweat

Urine
of an HIV infected person
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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
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Why HIV rates not going down?

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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
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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.
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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.
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ALL STIs are Preventable
Most STI’s are treatable
But
HIV/AIDS CANNOT BE CURED
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Prevention
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Treatment
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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
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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
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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.
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Early Signs & Symptoms of HIV

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Fever
Fatigue
Night Sweats
Loss of Appetite
Diarrhea
Swollen Lymph Glands
Remember these are symptoms of many other illnesses.
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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.
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Getting on with Life
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Can YOU support someone living with
HIV?
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What have we learnt?
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