basic information about the human inmunodeficiency virus

hiv factos for all

1. BASIC FACTS ON
HIV

2. What is HIV?
H -uman
Found only in humansFound only in humans
Transmitted among humansTransmitted among humans
Preventable by humansPreventable by humans
I -mmunodefiency
Body lacks ability to fight off infectionsBody lacks ability to fight off infections
V -irus
Type of germType of germ
Lives and reproduces in body cellsLives and reproduces in body cells
03/07/25 2Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

3. AIDS
A -cquired; received, not inherited (does not run received, not inherited (does not run
in families)in families)
I -mmuno; protected from (in this case the protected from (in this case the
system protects the body from disease)system protects the body from disease)
D -eficiency, - - a lack ofa lack of
S-yndrome; – a group of symptoms or – a group of symptoms or
diseasesdiseases
03/07/25 3Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

4. HIV IS FOUND IN BODY
FLUIDS
Semen
Breast milk
Blood
Vaginal fluid
03/07/25 4Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

5. 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
03/07/25 5Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

6. You CANNOT get HIV from…
Tears
Saliva
Sweat
Urine
of an HIV infected person
03/07/25 6Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

7. 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
03/07/25 7Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

8. Why HIV rates not going down?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
03/07/25 8Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

9. STI and HIV – The LinkSTI 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.
03/07/25 9Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

10. STI and HIV – The LinkSTI 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.
03/07/25 10Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

11. ALL STIs are Preventable
Most STI’s are treatable
But
HIV/AIDS CANNOT BE CURED
03/07/25 11Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

12. Prevention Treatment
03/07/25 12Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

13. Prevention
Talk with partner about HIV
Use a condom with your regular and non-
regular clients, and partners every time
you have sex
Reduce the number of main partners
Get tested. Know your status
03/07/25 13Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

14. Who is most at risk for 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 have sex with
other partners without using a condom
03/07/25 14Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

15. How You DON’T 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.
03/07/25 15Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

16. Early Signs & Symptoms of HIVEarly Signs & Symptoms of HIV
Fever
 Fatigue
 Night Sweats
 Loss of Appetite
 Diarrhea
 Swollen Lymph Glands
Remember these are symptoms of many other illnesses.
03/07/25 16Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

17. 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.
03/07/25 17Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

18. Getting on with Life
03/07/25 18Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

19. Can YOU support someone living with
HIV?
03/07/25 19Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme

20. What have we learnt?
03/07/25 20Copyright - National HIV/STI Programme