HIV/AIDS 101 The Basics

What does HIV stand for? HIVHIV uman mmunodeficiency irus

What does AIDS stand for? AIDSAIDS cquired mmune eficiency yndrome

HIV/AIDS Global Fast Facts: 33.2 million People Living with HIV/AIDS worldwide (2007) Almost 5 new infections every minute 5,700 people die of AIDS every day; that is approx. 2.1 million deaths/year (2007) Estimated number of children (under 15) living with HIV worldwide: 2.5 million Approx. 36% of all infections in 2006 were youth years old Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), UNICEF, World Health Organization

Canadian Stats Almost 60,000 Canadians living with HIV 0.4 % of population infected with HIV 30% of all People Living with HIV don’t know they’re infected Women represent 1/5 of all CAN infections Youth (15-24) are among highest risk category Provinces with the highest rates: ON, QC,BC Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

What is HIV? A virus that attacks your immune system. You may not feel or look sick for years but you can still infect others Over time you may grow weak and become sick with different illnesses

What is AIDS? If HIV is left untreated, your immune system will no longer be able to defend your body from infections, diseases or cancers. AIDS is the advanced form of the illness caused by HIV

Anyone can be infected with HIV no matter….. Your age Your sex Your sexual orientation Your race or ethnic origin

Transmission infected body fluid enters bloodstream

Fluids that pass infection: 1)Blood 2)Semen 3)Vaginal fluids 4)Breast milk

HIV Can Be Transmitted By: Unprotected anal or vaginal sex Unprotected oral sex Sharing uncleaned sex toys Using contaminated needles to inject substances or for piercing/tattooing Sharing drug equipment During pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding

MYTHS What are some other body fluids that you’ve heard might pass infection???

HIV is NOT spread by: talking, shaking hands, working or eating with someone hugs or kisses coughs or sneezes donating blood swimming pools toilet seats or water fountains bed sheets or towels forks, spoons, cups and food insects and animals

HIV Testing You can find out if you have HIV by having a simple blood test that looks for HIV antibodies You can get tested by your health care provider, at a walk-in clinic, local public health unit or in London at the Options Testing Clinic When you come to get tested counseling will be provided Test results can come back right away or they can take up to a few days. All positive HIV tests must be followed up by another test to confirm the positive result.

What are MY Risks? 1)HIGH 2)LOW 3)NEGLIGIBLE 4)NO

Risks At any time your risks may be increased if you have another sexually transmitted infection, an open sore or breaks in the mucosal lining (vagina,anus and or mouth)

Prevention is your only defense. Protect yourself from HIV Abstinence until committed marriage is the life giving choice!

High Risk: anal or vaginal sex without a condom sharing needles & drug injection equipment sharing piercing/tattooing needles sharing sex toys without cleaning or using a condom

Low Risk: anal or vaginal sex with a latex condom oral sex on a woman without a barrier oral sex on a man without a barrier

Negligible Risk: giving/receiving oral sex with a barrier sharing sex toys with a condom sharing toothbrushes or razors using drugs with a shared pipe or straw

No Risk: abstinence hugging, kissing, casual contact injecting with sterile equipment tattooing, piercing, acupuncture with sterilized and new equipment

Prevention Prevention is your only defense. Protect yourself from HIV!

Questions???