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The ABCs of HIV: HIV/AIDS Prevention
Published: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Dec. 1, is World AIDS Day, established by the World Health Organization in 1988. World AIDS Day focuses on global attention on the disturbing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Americans should be reminded that HIV/AIDS does not discriminate. Today there is an estimated 1.039 million to 1.185 million HIV positive individuals living in the United States. This is the largest number ever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Did you know?
- Of the estimated 944,306 Americans that have been diagnosed with AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic through 2004, 178,463 of those occurred in adult/adolescent females.
- Women represent 27% of new AIDS diagnoses in 2004
- Women across racial/ethnic groups most commonly report heterosexual contact or injection drug use as their primary modes of exposure to HIV
- Of the women living with HIV/AIDS:
- 64% are Black
- 19% are White
- 15% are Hispanic
- 1% are Asian or Pacific Islander
- Less than 1% are American Indian or Alaska Native
An estimated 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses for women are related to injection drug use. Sharing injection equipment contaminated with HIV is not the only risk factor associated with substance use. Women who use crack cocaine or other non-injection drugs also may be at a high risk for the sexual transmission of HIV if they sell or trade sex for drugs.
Know your ABCs to HIV Prevention
- A stands for “abstinence” (not having sex of any kind). Abstaining from sexual activities, including vaginal, anal or oral sex, is the safest way to avoid HIV.
- B is for “be faithful” Being in a sexual relationship with only one partner who also is faithful to you can help protect you. This limits your number of sexual partners and the possibility of infections.
- C is for condoms. Condoms should be used for any sexual activity with a partner who has HIV or with any partner outside of a long-term, faithful sexual relationship. Be aware that condoms don’t provide complete protection against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Prevention
- See your doctor immediately if you think you may have contracted HIV.
- Have safer sex
- Use only water-based lubricants. Oil based lubricants can cause the condom to rip.
- Limit your number of sexual partners
- Don’t share needles
- Talk with your partner
Myths about HIV/AIDS
- Women can’t give men HIV. It is true that it’s much harder for men to get HIV from women, but it does happen. Men have fewer areas on the penis where the virus can enter the bloodstream.
- HIV is the same as AIDS. HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS. Certain types of infections must be present for a person to be diagnosed as having AIDS. Having HIV infection does not mean you have AIDS.
- We both have HIV. We don’t need a condom. Safer sex is important among positive partners. Increasing evidence shows that re-infection can and does happen. You can re-infect your partner again if you are taking anti-HIV therapies, which you have become resistant to, and then you pass the drug resistant strain of HIV to your partner. Make sure you use a condom every time you have sex.
- Since I’m HIV positive, if I get pregnant, I will spread the disease to my unborn baby. When the right treatments are used, a woman who knows about her HIV infection early in pregnancy now has a less than 2% chance of delivering a baby who has HIV. Without treatment this risk is approximately 25% in the United States.
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, March 10, 2008. This marks the third annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which seeks to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of women and girls.
Women and girls can take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS in a variety of ways.
- Getting tested for HIV
- Practicing safe sex methods
- Deciding not to engage in high risk behaviors
- Talking about HIV prevention with family, friends and colleagues
- Providing support of the those living with HIV/AIDS
Many people do not know the importance of HIV/AIDS awareness. Education and safe practices will not only help lower HIV/AIDS incidence rates, but also may save your life.
If you suspect you may have HIV, please contact your doctor about being tested.
For more information, visit the Center for Women & Children’s Health.
References
www.hhs.gov
www.4women.gov
www.cdc.gov