Let’s Think about HIV/AIDS
Jamaica’s Reality
Estimated 28,000 Jamaicans living with
HIV/AIDS.
 8097 reported AIDS cases since the start of
the epidemic. (59.8% -males; 40.2% females)
 5,125 children under the age of 15yrs have
been orphaned due to AIDS.
 An average of 13 persons per week died of
AIDS in 2002.

Summary of AIDS Cases by Parish in Jamaica 1982-2001 (Rate per 100,000 Pop.)
N
W
E
S
Hanover
Trelawny
St. Ann
Westmoreland
St. Mary
Portland
St. Elizabeth
Manchester
St. Catherine
Clarendon
St. Thomas
AIDS/100,000 Pop.
85.1 - 95.5
95.5 - 149.7
149.7 - 203.5
203.5 - 217.1
217.1 - 552.6
Social Factors Driving the
HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Jamaica

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Poverty & Ignorance
Discrimination
Stigmatization
Marginalization
Migration
Cultural myths &
practices
Gender imbalance





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Sexual practices
Prostitution/sex work
Homo/bisexuality
Substance abuse
Sexually transmitted
infections
Sex tourism
Casual sex
HIV/AIDS – What is HIV?
H uman
I mmunodeficiency
V irus
HUMAN
 Found only in humans
 Transmitted between humans
 Preventable by humans
IMMUNO DEFICIENCY
 Body lacks ability to fight off
infections
VIRUS
 Type of germ
 Lives and reproduces in body cells
How the Immune System Works
The immune system is made up of special
cells which protect the body from infection.
THE NORMAL RESPONSE TO A VIRUS:
When a virus (germ) enters the body, the
cells which make up the immune system in
the body begin to work at once. These cells
produce what are known as “antibodies”.
The antibodies attack the germs and destroy
the germ therefore helping the person to get
better.
How Is HIV Spread?
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is spread
through four bodily fluids:




Blood
Semen
Vaginal secretions
Breast milk
The virus can only be spread from an
infected person if his or her bodily fluids
enter the bloodstream of an uninfected
person.
Sexual Transmission


Unprotected
heterosexual and
homosexual contact with
an infected partner is the
most common method of
HIV transmission.
Vaginal, oral and anal
sex are not safe if done
without proper
protection
Vertical Transmission
HIV infected mother can infect her
baby:


At birth
Through breastfeeding
Blood to Blood Transmission


Blood transfusion can
also cause HIVinfection, if the
donated blood is not
tested.
In the Caribbean this
could happen in rare
cases
Transmission by Non-sterile
Equipment
Sharing non-sterilized needles or
syringes (or razors) - may lead to
infection!
Needles used for:
 Injecting narcotics
 Injecting medicine
 Tattooing
 Piercing
May carry HIV from the
blood of an infected person,
and be transmitted to you.
To get HIV ….
HIV must be present
 HIV must be present in enough quantities to
infect (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast
milk)
 HIV must go directly to the blood stream

Who Can Get 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 has sex with other
partners without using a condom
 People who share IV drug needles that are
not sterilized.
 People with 1 sex partner can also get HIV

ARE YOU AT RISK?
ARE YOU AT RISK?
IT IS NOT WHO YOU
ARE, BUT WHAT
YOU DO THAT PUTS
YOU AT RISK!!!!
BE HONEST with YOURSELF
 Have
I ever had sex?
 Do I have more than one partner?
 Does my partner have more than one
partner?
 Does my partner use a condom every
time with all his/her partners?
CHECK YOURSELF
Do I use a condom
every time?
 Do I know my
partner (s) HIV
status?
 Do I know my
HIV status?

TO DO WHAT IS
RIGHT …
YOU NEED TO DO
WHAT IS TRUE.
More on HIV Infection

You can become infected from only one
exposure

Once you are infected you can infect
others

If you are HIV+ you can continue to live
a healthy life
How HIV Cannot Be Transmitted
HIV cannot be transmitted from an infected person to you through:
How HIV Cannot Be Transmitted
HIV cannot be transmitted from an infected person to you:
How HIV Cannot Be Transmitted
HIV cannot be transmitted from an infected
person to you:
Through sweat and tears
 By living or going to school with an infected
child
 Through everyday children’s fights or nosebleed

HIV – Signs?
Can you look and tell if someone one has HIV?
NO! People with
HIV show no clinical
signs. They look
just like you and us.
A person can look
and feel well for
many years and be
HIV positive.
The HIV positive
person can pass the
virus on to someone
else.
HIV PROGRESSION
The average asymptomatic period is 8-1012yrs.
 About 10% of persons will rapidly progress
to AIDS in 2-3 yrs.
 10% of persons will NOT progress to AIDS
after 10yrs.

How To Tell Your Status

Do the HIV test
 Rapid test or
 Eliza test
 This is the screening test. If the result is
positive a second test is done to confirm the
results. When both tests are positive, it
means that antibodies to HIV have been
found.
Counselling before the test (PRE)
Counselling after the test (POST)
The HIV Antibody Test

Indicates the presence
of HIV antibodies
only
 Is
accurate, especially
when done at the right
time
 Can
encourage
follow-up treatment
 Can
lead to
behavioural change
The Window Period

The window period is a period of roughly up
to three months immediately after a person
becomes infected with HIV, when it may not
be possible to detect the infection with any
test.

This is because the body has not produced
enough antibodies which can be picked up by
a test. The test results will therefore show a
FALSE NEGATIVE.
The Window Period
Any person who receives a negative
test result should do a second test
three months later to be absolutely
sure of his/her HIV status.
During the 3 month waiting period
he/she should either abstain from sex
or use a condom properly at all times
so as not to risk exposure to the virus.
Who Needs To Take
An HIV Test
Sexually active people
 People who have unprotected sex
 If you were raped
 If you got accidental needle sticks at work
 People who have doubts that their sex
partner is faithful

TREATMENT -HIV

Anti-retroviral

Healthy lifestyle practices

Strong support system
AIDS
Acquired – received, not inherited (does not
run in families)
Immune – protected from (in this case the
system protects the body from disease
Deficiency - a lack of
Syndrome – a group of symptoms or
diseases
What is AIDS?
Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome

AIDS is the medical
name for a
combination of
illnesses which result
when – the immune
system – that part of
the body which
protects it from
infections and
diseases, is weakened
or destroyed
Signs and Symptoms
AIDS

AIDS – person is HIV positive and has at
least 2 major and one minor opportunistic
illnesses
Key Prevention Messages
A B C
P R T
Abstinence
Be faithful
Respect the
Protect yourself
rights of
and your
infected and ill
partner
Condoms
Talk before
you act
PREVENTION Cont’d.
Do STI/HIV test at the onset of establishing
new relationships
 Practice the correct usage of condoms that
guarantee greater safety (latex)
 Avoid the usage of drugs that are nonmedicinal.

PREVENTION (Cont’d)
Avoid sharing needles (i.e. for any
intravenous purposes)
 Avoid the use of substances -eg. Alcohol
that can impair your judgement in a given
situation.
 Practice universal precautions when
handling blood, body refuse etc.

PREVENTION
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
Rubber gloves, goggles, plastic aprons are
used to protect those who work in labs from
accidents such as needle stick or spillage of
blood and other body fluids.
 General hygiene – wash hands etc
 Proper disposal of contaminated wastes

Protection During Sex
Use a rubber condom every
time you have sex.
Developing A Healthy Attitude...

Become Informed about STI/HIV

Internalize Prevention Messages

Make informed Choices

Translate Theory into Practices
The Way Forward:
The Decision is yours
Life Style
The sexual choices you
decide to make will
determine
YOUR
FUTURE