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Frequently
Asked Questions
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Where did HIV come from?
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If a person becomes infected with HIV, does that mean he/she
has AIDS?
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What is the meaning of safer sex?
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How can I tell if I am infected with HIV? What are the
symptoms?
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What are my chances of becoming infected with HIV/STI?
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How effective are condoms in preventing HIV?
-
Is there a connection between HIV and other sexually
transmitted infections?
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Could I Get HIV Infection After Only One Encounter?
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How long do I have to wait until I get tested?
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Where can I get an HIV test done?
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What is window period?
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Is HIV/AIDS a disease of homosexuals, sex workers and truck
drivers?
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Does frequent masturbation leads to sexual inadequacy?
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Are women at greater risk of getting infected with HIV?
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How can a couple use condoms if they wish to have children?
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Should every workplace have a policy on HIV/AIDS prevention
and care issues?
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What should a HIV policy at the workplace include?
1.
Where did HIV come from?
No one knows this for sure. Scientists have different
theories about the origin of HIV, but none has been proved
so far. The earliest known case of HIV was from a blood
sample collected in 1959 from a man in Kinshasa, Democratic
Republic of Congo (Africa). (How he became infected is not
known). Genetic analysis of this blood sample suggests that
HIV-1 may have stemmed from a single virus in the late 1940s
or early 1950s. However it does not matter where the virus
came from, the fact is that the virus is here and is
affecting millions of people. So the only way to protect us
is to prevent it by gaining maximum information about it.
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2.
If a person becomes infected with HIV, does that mean
he/she has AIDS?
No. A person can be infected with HIV for many years and yet
may remain perfectly healthy. However, the virus gradually
multiplies inside the body and eventually destroys the
body's ability to fight off illnesses by weakening the
immune system. However, this may happen after many years. A
person with HIV may not know s/he is infected but can pass
the virus on to other people. Not everyone with HIV
infection will get AIDS. AIDS is a group of symptoms that
develop during the last stages of HIV infection. A person is
said to have AIDS when s/he has tested positive for HIV and
displays one or more of the opportunistic infections
associated with HIV like TB, continuous diarrhea etc. There
are 31 opportunistic infections listed for AIDS.
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3.
What is the meaning of safer sex?
Safe sex means sexual acts in which there is no exchange of
blood, seminal or vaginal fluids. Sexual behaviors such as
dry kissing, cuddling, massaging, mutual masturbation,
masturbation and body rubbing involve no penetration
(oral/anal/vaginal) or exchange of fluids and are considered
safer. However, if you have any cuts or sores on your hands
make sure they are covered with plasters (Band-Aids).
Oral sex (mouth to genital contact) is safer than vaginal or
anal sex as long as semen/vaginal fluid is not swallowed and
there are no cuts, sores, rashes, etc. in the mouth or in or
around genital area.
Safer sex also means using a condom correctly and
consistently.
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4.
How can I tell if I am infected with HIV? What are the
symptoms?
The only way to determine whether you are infected or not is
to get yourself tested for HIV infection. You cannot rely on
symptoms to know whether you are infected with HIV. Many
people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms at
all for many years.
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5.
What are my chances of becoming infected with HIV/STI?
Your chance of becoming infected depends entirely on what
behavior you adopt. You can only become infected with HIV if
you engage in risky activities. Risky activities include
having unprotected sex (or sex without a condom), having sex
multiple partners (or sex with number of different sexual
partners), sharing needles or syringes with several other
drug users, transfusion of contaminated blood, indulging in
sexual acts under the influence of drugs or alcohol (least
likely to have safer sex when 'high'). By engaging in any of
these behaviors, you increase your chances of coming into
contact with someone infected with HIV/STI and transmitting
the infection to you.
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6.
How effective are condoms in preventing HIV?
Condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV/STI
transmission when used consistently (every time) and
correctly (from beginning to end). Condoms work if, and
only, if YOU USE THEM CORRECTLY. Most of the times condoms
fail because people are not using them correctly, or not
using them every time they indulge in sexual intercourse.
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7.
Is there a connection between HIV and other sexually
transmitted infections?
Yes. Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can
increase a person's risk of becoming infected with HIV,
whether the STI causes open sores or breaks in the skin
(e.g., syphilis, herpes, chancroid) or does not cause breaks
in the skin (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea). If the STI
infection causes irritation of the skin, tears or sores may
make it easier for HIV to enter the body during sexual
contact. Even when the STI causes no breaks or open sores,
the infection can stimulate an immune response in the
genital area that can make HIV transmission more likely. In
addition, if an HIV-infected person is also infected with
STI, that person is three to five times more likely than
other HIV-infected persons to transmit HIV through sexual
contact.
Not having (abstaining from) sexual intercourse is the most
effective way to avoid STIs, including HIV. For those who
choose to be sexually active, the following HIV prevention
activities are highly effective:
- engaging in sex that does not involve vaginal, anal, or
oral sex
- having intercourse with only one uninfected partner
- using condoms every time you have sex
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8.
Could I Get HIV Infection After Only One Encounter?
Yes. It takes only one high-risk encounter to become
infected with HIV. You can be infected after one experience
of unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person.
Sharing needles with an infected person a single time can
transmit HIV. Do not place yourself at risk. Always take
precautions.
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9.
How long do I have to wait until I get tested?
You must wait 6 months after your last possible exposure to
the virus (or anytime afterward), in order to get an
accurate HIV antibody test. After 6 months, the tests are
more than 99% accurate. If you get tested before the 6-month
waiting period, you could have the infection but the test
will not detect it.
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10.
Where can I get an HIV test done?
HIV testing facilities (without counseling) are available in
most government hospitals free of charge. However it is
always recommended to go for counseling before the test in
order to ascertain whether testing is required. Counseling
is also needed to help you cope with a positive (or
negative) test result. Most government hospitals provide
these facilities at low cost or free of charge.
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11.
What
is window period?
The time between 3-12 weeks when antibodies against HIV
infection are being formed in the body is called the "Window
Period." At this time the person is already infected as well
as infectious, but the blood test will not indicate the
presence of antibodies. This is because in India, most HIV
testing equipment tests for antibodies against the virus. In
some infected people, antibodies cannot be detected for 6
months or longer, yet they are infected and infectious.
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12.
Is HIV/AIDS a disease of homosexuals, sex workers and
truck drivers?
No. HIV/AIDS could happen to anyone who gets involved in
high-risk behavior. Since there is a stigma attached to
HIV/AIDS, people tend to point fingers at certain sections
of the society like sex-workers, truck drivers, and
homosexuals who are marginalized and stigmatized.
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13.
Does frequent masturbation leads to sexual inadequacy?
No. It is a myth. Masturbation is one of the healthiest and
safest ways to sexually satisfy oneself.
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14.
Are women at greater risk of getting infected with HIV?
Yes. Women are more vulnerable to HIV infection for two
broad reasons:
Their mucosal surface is larger hence increasing the risk of
spreading HIV infection easily.
They completely lack control over their body and sexuality.
Women are not "supposed" to talk about sex, sexuality,
negotiate the use of condom or any other safe sex practice
with their partners and cannot say "no" when they do not
desire to have sex. This all leads to the sexual, social and
economical vulnerability of women.
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15.
How can a couple use condoms if they wish to have
children?
It is advisable for both the partners to get an HIV test
done before planning a child if anyone of them feels that
they have been involved in unsafe practices that might have
put them to the risk of contracting HIV. If the HIV status
is known before the child is planned or conceived, it would
help the couple plan their child in a better way. And if the
mother is HIV positive, then necessary precautions could be
taken to stop the spread of HIV infection to the child.
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16.
Should every workplace have a policy on HIV/AIDS
prevention and care issues?
Yes, every industry, whether large or small, should have in
place a policy that addresses how HIV/AIDS should be dealt
with at the workplace. (Keep in mind that good policies are
thoughtfully written before situations arise, not in
response to them!) an urgent need is for a policy that deals
with reducing the stigma and discrimination of workers who
are HIV positive. The policy document must also be gender
sensitive, which means that it should deal with the concerns
of men and women equally.
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17.
What should a HIV policy at the workplace include?
The policy should
- Be fully consistent with the employer's mission and
corporate values, and states that consistency clearly
- Review the medical facts
- Explain how HIV affects the immune system
- Explain why an HIV-infected person does not present a
threat to the health of others
- Include training in universal precautions to prevent
exposure to blood borne pathogens
The most effective context for explaining company policy is
workplace HIV/AIDS training. Each worker should receive a
copy of the policy during the training and be encouraged to
reflect on how it is consistent with the training.
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