HIV & AIDS Education

• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
• HIV infection causes the body's immune system to break down so that the body can't fight off illnesses.
• AIDS is the end stage of HIV infection.

How Can People Become Infected With HIV?

• by having unprotected (without a condom) sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with someone with HIV
• by sharing needles and/or syringes with someone with HIV
• from a mother with HIV to her baby before or during birth or through breastfeeding
• from a transfusion of blood or blood-clotting factors before 1985

How Do People Get HIV From Sexual Intercourse?

HIV can be spread through unprotected sexual intercourse from male to female, female to male, male to male, or female to female. Unprotected sexual intercourse means sexual intercourse without correct and consistent use of a latex condom or any other physical barrier to HIV (such as the female condom).

HIV may be in an infected person's blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. It can enter the body through certain types of tissues, especially the tissues that line the inside of the vagina, anus, and penis. It can also enter through cuts or tears (some of which may already be present, and some of which may occur during intercourse) in the vagina, penis, rectum, or mouth. HIV is transmitted by anal, vaginal, or oral sexual intercourse with a person who is infected with HIV.

Since many infected people have no symptoms, it's hard to be sure who is or is not infected with HIV. The more sex partners someone has without using condoms, the greater his or her chances are of encountering one who is infected, and becoming infected.

• Anybody can have HIV...of either gender and of any race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. And no matter how healthy or attractive a person is, he or she could still be infected with HIV.

How Do People Get HIV From Using Needles?

Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug preparation “works” even once with another person is an easy way to be infected with HIV. Blood from an infected person can remain in or on a needle or syringe and then be transferred directly into the body of the next person who uses it.

While spreading of HIV can happen when people share needles to inject illegal drugs, the sharing of needles and syringes used for injecting other substances could transmit HIV. Types of needles include those used to inject steroids or vitamins and those used for tattooing or ear or body piercing.

HIV and Babies

A woman infected with HIV can pass the virus on to her baby during pregnancy or during birth. She can also pass it on when breastfeeding. If a woman is infected before or during pregnancy, her child has about 1 chance in 4 of being born infected. Following a specific drug regimen that includes drug therapies during pregnancy can reduce this risk to about 1 in 12.

• Any woman who is considering having a baby and who thinks she might have placed herself at risk for HIV infection—even if this occurred years ago—should seek counseling and testing before she gets pregnant. To find out where in your area someone can go for counseling and testing, call your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) INFO line, 1-800-CDC-INFO.

Blood Transfusions and HIV

Although in the past some people became infected with HIV from receiving blood transfusions, this risk is extremely low now. Since 1985, all donated blood has been tested for evidence of HIV. All blood found to contain evidence of HIV is discarded. Giving blood at a blood bank or at other established blood collection centers is not a risk for HIV infection. The needles used for blood donations are sterile. They are used once, then destroyed.

What Are Ways People Cannot Get HIV?

HIV infection doesn't just happen. People don't simply “catch” it like a cold or flu. Unlike cold or flu viruses, HIV is not spread by coughs or sneezes, sweat, or tears. HIV is not spread through everyday contact with infected people at school, at work, at home, or anywhere else.

HIV is not spread by clothes, phones, or toilet seats. It can't be passed on by things like spoons, cups, or other objects that someone who is infected with the virus has used. HIV is not spread by bites from mosquitoes. HIV does not live in a mosquito, and it is not transmitted through a mosquito's salivary glands like other diseases such as malaria or yellow fever. HIV is not spread by bedbugs, lice, flies, or other insects. HIV is not spread through closed-mouth kissing. Experts maintain that casual contact through closed-mouth or “social” kissing is not a risk for transmission of HIV.

An important part of being ready to talk to young people about preventing HIV infection and AIDS is being able to answer questions they may ask. If someone asks you a question about HIV infection or AIDS and you do not know the answer, it's okay to say you don't know. Don't make up an answer—you may be providing inaccurate information that can cause a lot of harm. Take steps to obtain accurate information.

Treat a tough question as a chance to show the questioner how to get information about HIV infection and AIDS independently. You, or anyone else, can get accurate answers to difficult questions by calling your local AIDS Hotline or the CDC INFO line, 1-800-CDC-INFO. You do not have to give your name, and the call is free.

To help you answer questions that might be raised by your child or someone in your family, read some commonly asked questions with scientifically correct answers.

Talking with Young People About HIV Infection and AIDS

Young people today often face tough decisions about sex and drugs. Most likely, you will not be with the children you care about when they face these choices. But if you talk to them about decision-making and HIV and AIDS prevention now, you can help them resist peer pressure and make informed choices that will help protect their health, now and for the rest of their lives.

Think of Yourself as a Counselor
When talking with a young person about HIV infection and AIDS, think of your role as that of counselor, advisor, coach, best friend, or guide. Your goal: to help a young person learn how to make smart decisions about how to stay healthy and avoid infection with HIV.

Tips for Starting a Conversation
An effective way to start any conversation is to be informed first and to be a good listener and communicator. You can start talking about HIV infection and AIDS at any time and in any way you choose. If you find it awkward to raise the topic, you can look for cues that will help you. Here are some examples:

• Decide What Young People Need to Know. As an adult who knows the young people you will talk with, you are in the best position to decide what they need to know about HIV infection and AIDS. Think carefully about their knowledge and experience. How old are the children? How much do they already know about HIV infection, AIDS, and other related subjects, such as sex and drug use? Where have they gotten their information? From friends? School? Television? You? Is it likely to be accurate? Adults should be aware that many young people think that if they talk about sex, it means that adults will think they are having sex, so many children do not ask or talk about it. Also ask yourself these questions: Is it possible that the young people you will be talking with are sexually active? Have they tried drugs? Do they spend time with people who do these things?
  
  In addition, consider your family's religious and cultural values. Do you want to convey these in the conversation? How will you get them across? These are important questions. Answering them will help you stress the information that the young people in your life need to know.
• Inquire about school curriculum. Ask a young person what he or she is learning in health, science, or any other class about HIV infection and AIDS. Use the answer to launch your conversation.
• Use community events as conversation starters. Local events, such as AIDS benefits or health fairs, can serve as handy conversation starters. You might even propose going to such an event with a young person as an educational experience.
• Embrace questions as a starting point. Don't be surprised if a young person asks you directly about HIV infection and AIDS. You can also use young people's questions about related topics, such as dating or sex, to lead into a conversation about HIV infection and AIDS. Many adolescents say they know all they need to know. Be ready to explore these issues with them.

How to Keep The Conversation Running Smoothly. Talking about HIV infection and AIDS can be difficult. You may feel uncomfortable just thinking about it. That's understandable. If you are nervous or embarrassed, don't be afraid to say so. Bringing your feelings into the open can help break the tension. Besides, a young person will sense your uneasiness even if you don't mention it. Here are some suggestions.

• Review the Facts. You don't have to be an expert to talk with a young person about HIV infection and AIDS. But you should understand the basic facts so that you will deliver the right information. This brochure will help you understand the key facts. Talking about the facts with another adult first may help you feel more comfortable about talking with young people. If you do not know the answer to a particular question, you can use the resources at the end of this brochure to help you find it.
• Step Into a Young Person's Shoes. How did you think when you were an adolescent? Try to identify with your adolescent, but try not to parallel your childhood experiences. Think of the important differences between the world a child grows up in today and the one you grew up in; this can help you make your discussion timely and relevant. The better you understand a young person's point of view, the better you'll be able to communicate.
• Have a Mutual Conversation. A conversation is an exchange of ideas and information, not a lecture. Encourage the young person you are speaking with to talk and ask questions. Ask about his or her thoughts, feelings, and activities. Show that you want to learn from a young person just as you hope he or she will learn from you.
• Listen to what is being said. Listen to the young person with whom you speak as closely as you hope he or she will listen to you. Stop talking if he or she wants to speak. Give him or her your full attention, and make eye contact.
• Don't Get Discouraged. Young people often challenge what they hear from adults. If a young person questions what you say, try not to get into an argument. Encourage the young person to check your information with another source, such as the CDC INFO line, 1-800-CDC-INFO. If your first conversation is cut short for any reason, don't give up. It is important to keep trying. If your adolescent does not want to talk, ask him or her to select alternatives—such as reading a booklet—that will provide education without the pressure of a formal discussion.