HIV/AIDS 101 Ground Rules • Use “I” Statements when expressing your thoughts/concerns. • We are all equal in this room and here to learn. • Confidentiality – any personal information shared in this room, will stay in the room • There is no such thing as a stupid question!!! Definitions What Does HIV Stand For? What Does AIDS Stand For? H Human A Acquired I Immuno-deficiency I Immune V Virus D Deficiency S Syndrome Transmission Information HIV Can be Transmitted Via: HIV Can NOT Be Transmitted Via: Infectious "bodily fluids“ Non- infectious "bodily fluids" • Blood (including menstrual blood) • Saliva • Semen • Tears • Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum) • Sweat • Cervical and vaginal mucous • Feces • Breast milk • Urine • Anal fluids Transmission Cont’d. Three primary ways in which HIV can be transmitted: 1. Unprotected vaginal and/or anal contact with someone who has the virus 2. Direct blood contact through sharing needles 3. Mother to child contact during birth or through breastfeeding HIV can NOT be transmitted by: 1. Insect bites 2. Sharing dishes, eating utensils, or food 3. Casual, day to day contact (including using restrooms) 4. Donating blood 5. Using hot tubs and/or swimming pools 6. Using the same toilet seat as someone living with HIV How Does HIV/AIDS Work? • HIV/AIDS infects our white blood cells and slowly breaks down our body’s ability to fight off infections and diseases. • When a person is infected with HIV, the body produces antibodies. If HIV antibodies are detected, it means that the individual is now living with HIV – HIV antibodies can usually be detected in a “window period” 6-12 weeks after infection, and in some rare cases up to 6 months. Testing Information Anonymous HIV test where a specialized code is used instead of a name or initials. The results will never appear on your health record and only the person getting tested knows the code. Nominal/name based Testing Your actual name is used on the test, and if the result is positive, public health needs to be notified. Non-nominal Testing Identical to nominal/name based testing except your name does not appear on the test. Either a code or initials are used. **Both last options are confidential, but the test and the results goes on your health records, and you need an Ontario Health Card – offered at most health services in Ontario. If you test positive you are reported to the Medical Officer of Health and the information stays confidential with that organization Testing Locations: York Region 7 Sexual Health Clinics: Markham 4261 Highway 7 Phone: 905-940-1787 Ext. 4211 Richmond Hill 50 High Tech, 2nd floor Phone: 905-762-1282 Ext. 4811 Newmarket 22 Prospect Street Phone: 905-895-4512 Ext. 4311 Woodbridge (Woodbridge College Students only) Woodbridge College, Guidance Department 71 Bruce Street 1-800-361-5653 Keswick (Keswick High School Students only ) Keswick High School, 100 Biscayne Boulevard Phone: 1-800-361-5653 King City Seneca College, King Campus, 13990 Dufferin Street Phone: 1-800-361-5653 Sutton Sutton High School, 20798 Dalton Road Phone: 1-800-361-5653 *Rapid and Anonymous Testing Available at all sexual health clinics **Must call to make an appointment for testing, clinic hours may vary by location and date HIV and Other STIs For persons with an STI infection: – The risk of HIV transmission is increased 3-50 fold For persons with an HIV infection: – HIV genital shedding in men and women increases in the presence of STIs and can accelerate the depression of the immune system Global HIV/AIDS Statistics • Globally – 33.2 million people are living with HIV • In recent years, the UN has reported a 70% global reduction in the number of new reported infections • Most of the reduction is explained by decreases in new reported HIV/AIDS cases in India as well as several sub-Saharan African countries including: Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Angola. UNAIDS 2007 Canadian HIV/AIDS Statistics • • In Canada, approx. 65,000 people are living with HIV (as of the end of 2008) Men who have sex with Men (MSM) account for 48% of reported cases. VS. Ontario HIV/AIDS Statistics •Ontario has had the highest number of HIV+ results since 1985: 26,461. •Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) account for 50.4% of reported cases •Women account for 23% • Heterosexual contact accounts for 31% •Injection Drug Users (IDU) account for 9.5% • Injection Drug Users account for 17% •Heterosexual contact accounts for 16.9% • Aboriginal people account for approximately 12.5% of new infections Public Health Agency of CanadaGovernment of Canada •People from countries where HIV is endemic count for 19.4% University of Toronto Toronto HIV/AIDS Statistics VS. York Region HIV/AIDS Statistics •Toronto accounts for the largest number of individuals testing positive for HIV in Ontario – 16,458. •Approximately 230 People have been diagnosed between 1998 and 2007 •Men who have sex with men (MSM) 73.9% of reported cases •20-25 cases are investigated each year. •Women 12% •Injection drug users (IDU) 4.3% •Heterosexual contact 7.8% •People from countries where HIV is endemic 7.9% University of Toronto •In 2007 alone, 17 new cases were reported HIV/AIDS and Stigma • • Stigma can be found in societal, organizational and religious policies, cultural norms and in the way we relate to each other and ourselves. HIV stigma is rooted in a lack of knowledge about sexual health, our own fear, and our prejudices about certain communities • The effect of being stigmatized is great in that it can result in: •Social isolation •Loss of self-esteem •Fear of disclosure •Depression, anxiety and stress •Depressed immune system •Despair and hopelessness •Increased risk of not engaging in safer sex practices, not getting tested and being unable to properly care for one’s health HIV does not discriminate based on what neighbourhood you live in, gender, race or sexual orientation. It is an equal opportunity infection and you can NOT tell if someone is living with HIV/AIDS by simply looking at them. What Can You Do if You Think You may Have Been Exposed? • Go to the ER or your doctor immediately! • They will go through a “risk assessment” with you to determine the likelihood of transmission • If appropriate, you and your doctor will decide TOGETHER whether a small dosage of the HIV cocktail should be administered • After the window period an HIV test will be conducted Questions, Comment or Concerns? Additional Information and Resources • AIDS Committee of York Region www.acyr.org – Provides links to a variety of other York Region community resources • York Region Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Youth Support at www.rainbowyouthyork.com • Public Health Agency of Canada http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/index-eng.php • UNAIDS http://www.unaids.org/en/ • ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto) www.actoronto.org • HIV/AIDS Bureau http://www.hrsa.gov/about/organization/bureaus/hab/index.html