Prevention of HIV Infection
Description of tool:
The information in this tool was adapted by UNESCO Division for the Promotion of
Quality Education from the following publication:
Education International, WHO, EDC, UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, CDC and FNV
2001. Training and Resource Manual on School Health and HIV/STI Prevention. Paris:
UNESCO.
Description of document:
This information or activity supports Core
Component #3 of the FRESH framework
for effective school health: skills-based
health education. It will have a greater
impact if it is reinforced by activities in the
other three components of the framework.
FRESH Tools for Effective School Health
http://www.fresh.org/
First Edition 2004
Prevention of HIV Infection1
The only sure way to prevent HIV infection is to avoid coming into contact with the fluids
which contain HIV in sufficient quantity to cause infection: blood, semen (and preejaculate), vaginal secretions and breastmilk.* For most people, that means:**

Not having sex with an HIV-infected person; and/or

Not sharing needles with an HIV-infected person.
Because most people who are infected with HIV have few or no symptoms for an extended
period of time, you cannot tell if someone is infected just by looking at him/her, and many
HIV-positive persons do not know they are infected. The following are prevention
measures relevant to personal sex practices and injecting drug use:
1. To prevent sexual transmission of HIV, abstain from sex with any person whose HIVstatus is uncertain.
2. Ask about the sexual history of current and future sex partners.
3. Practise abstinence or fidelity to one uninfected partner. Reducing the number of
sex partners also reduces the risk of HIV infection.
4. Always use a condom from start to finish during any type of sex (vaginal, anal, and
oral). Use latex condoms rather than natural membrane condoms. If used properly,
latex condoms offer significant protection against sexually transmitted disease
agents, including HIV.
5. Use only water-based lubricants. Do not use saliva or oil-based lubricants such as
petroleum jelly or vegetable shortening. If you decide to use a spermicide along with
a condom, it is preferable to use spermicide in the vagina according to
manufacturer's instructions.
6. Avoid anal or rough vaginal intercourse. Do not do anything that could tear the skin
or moist lining of the genitals, anus, or mouth and cause bleeding.
7. Avoid deep, wet, or "French" kissing with an infected person. Possible trauma to the
mouth may occur, which could result in the exchange of blood. It is safe, however, to
hug, cuddle, rub, or dry kiss your partner.
8. Avoid alcohol and illicit drugs. Alcohol and drugs can impair your immune system
and your judgement. If you use drugs, do not share "injecting drug works." Do not
share needles, syringes, or cookers.
9. Do not share personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, and devices used during
sex which may be contaminated with blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.
10. If you know you are infected with HIV or have engaged in sex or needlesharing behaviours that lead to infection with HIV, do not donate blood,
plasma, sperm, body organs, or tissues. Inform potential sex partners of your
seropositive status and do not share personal items (as above) or druginjecting equipment with others.
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*
Other body fluids, such as sweat, saliva, tears, etc. may contain small amounts of the virus, but
NOT in sufficient quantity to cause another to be infected, UNLESS such fluids also contain
blood.
**
People who live in countries where the blood supply is not rigorously screened for transfusiontransmissible diseases including HIV, are also at risk of infection through blood (or blood product)
transfusions, and must weigh the risk of transfusions accordingly.
1
Adapted from Education International, WHO, EDC, UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, CDC and FNV 2001.
Training and Resource Manual on School Health and HIV/STI Prevention. Paris: UNESCO.
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