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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fluid
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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?

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 STIs are treatable
But

HIV/AIDS CANNOT BE
CURED
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Prevention
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

dont use a condom during sex

People whose sex partner have sex with

other partners without using a condom

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How You DONT 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

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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