Does HIV only affect gay people and drug users?
NO. Every human being is vulnerable to
HIV through sexual transmission (vaginal, anal, or oral), sharing needles,
blood contact, or mother-to-child transmission.
Can I get HIV from….
-daily interactions in
school or in my workplace?
-sharing a cup, cutlery,
make-up, or a towel?
-sharing food or a water
bottle?
-exposure to sweat or
tears?
-holding hands, touching,
hugging, dry kissing?
-using the same toilet?
-swimming in the same
pool?
-sneezing or coughing?
-mosquito bites?
The answer to all of these is
NO. You cannot get HIV any of these ways,
because the virus cannot survive for long outside the cell. It is very
important to dispel these myths and preconceptions to decrease stigma and
discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.
Can I get HIV from sharing a razor or a toothbrush?
There is a very small chance - these
two should be avoided because of potential blood transmission through
small cuts in the mouth or on the skin.
Does the Pill (oral contraceptive) protect against HIV?
No. Condoms are the most effective way
to prevent HIV transmission during sex.
Do I need to use a condom for oral sex?
Yes, absolutely. HIV can be
transmitted from either partner through small cuts in the mouth, and is
present in sexual fluids (even male pre-ejaculate fluid).
If both partners are infected with HIV, do we still need to use a
condom?
Yes. You still need to use a condom to
avoid “re-infection” or “superinfection.” There are several different
strains of HIV, and they can compound and worsen each other’s effects.
Can my family doctor treat me for HIV/AIDS?
No – the treatment procedure for
HIV/AIDS is very complex, and you should maintain regular contact with a
HIV specialist.
Can people with HIV have children?
This answer used to be no; however, if
the proper precautions are taken, medical practice has lowered the chance
of mother-child transmission from 25% to about 2-3%, opening many
physicians’ minds to the idea of a HIV-positive woman starting a family.
Methods used to reduce the risk of mother-child transmission include using
HIV medications during pregnancy, delivering the baby by C-section, and
avoiding breast milk.
Is
there a cure for HIV/AIDS?
Extensive drug therapy is available to
help people live with HIV/AIDS for much longer than before; however, there
is still no preventive vaccine and NO cure.
|
