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Both gays and heteros can acquire AIDS. Nobody is free from this viruses except one who is highly careful and prevent oneself.

INTRODUCTION TO HIV/AIDS
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___What is HIV?___

Human:  Infecting human beings
Immunodeficiency:  Decrease or weakness in the body’s ability to fight off infections and illnesses
Virus:  A pathogen having the ability to replicate only inside a living cell

___What is AIDS?___

**Acquired**: To come into possession of something new 
**Immune Deficiency**:  Decrease or weakness in the body’s ability to fight off infections and illnesses
**Syndrome**:  A group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality**AIDS** is the final stage of the disease caused by infection with a type of virus called HIV.

Now let look at the two together that is HIV and AIDS or comparing the two together to have a basic knowledge of HIV and AIDS.
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HIV vs. AIDS
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**HIV** is the virus that causes AIDS
Not everyone who is infected with HIV has AIDS
Everyone with **AIDS** is infected with HIV
**AIDS**is result of progression of HIV Infection
Anyone infected with HIV, although healthy, can still transmit the virus to another person

It is important for you to know or have basic knowledge on how HIV is transmitted.

How HIV is transmitted?
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Sexual Transmission (85%)
* unprotected heterosexual intercourse 
* homosexual intercourse between men
* Mother to child (10%)
- during pregnancy 
- at delivery
- through breast feeding
* Blood and blood products (5%)
transfusion, clinical use of blood products, transplant
* unsterile surgical and injection equipment
* sharing syringes among drug users

___There are many who believes by love or move closer to HIV positive patience they will have the virus as well, No, you can't have the virus by loving or move close to them, it's our collective responsibility to show them love and care. Below are ways to clear your doubt, you can't contact HIV through the following:___

* Casual contact such as sharing food, shaking hands, hugging, kissing
Contact with saliva, tears, sweat, urine, feces

* Airborne exposure via person who is coughing or sneezing

* Donating blood

Risk behind Sexual Transmission:
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* Multiple sexual partners 
* Non-use of barrier methods (condoms)
* Viral load of infected person
type of sexual contact (anal intercourse is riskier than vaginal; vaginal is riskier than oral)
* Lack of circumcision in men
co-existence of untreated STIs

Role of STIs in HIV Transmission:
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* STIs may cause inflammation and ulceration, which increases the risk of acquiring infection by
- increasing recruitment of uninfected lymphocytes to the site of the inflammation
- disrupting the genital epithelium and endothelium

Prevention of Sexual HIV Transmission:
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* Decreasing the risk of being exposed
delay age of sexual debut
* Decrease the numbers of sexual partners
If exposed, decreasing the risk for transmission 
* Consistently use male and female condoms
* Undergo voluntary testing and counselling, know your HIV status
treat STIs.

___Prevention of Blood-Borne HIV Transmission
Method of transmission:___
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- Transfusion		
- Re-use of needles and surgical instruments without sterilisation 
- Needle stick injuries to healthcare workers

Then how to prevent the above mentioned transmission method:
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- Sterilising or not re-using needles 
- screening blood and blood products for HIV prior to administration
- Sterilisation of surgical instruments (including those used in traditional practices such as circumcision and scarification) sterilising or not re-using needles
- Universal precautions for healthcare workers (for example, use of gloves and eyewear, proper disposal of needles)

HIV is highly transmitted to child through mother that is mother-to-child HIV Transmission, below are ways to prevent this happening or occurring.

Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
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* HIV positive women can prevent transmission of infection to their babies by giving both mother and baby ART. 

* Pregnant women that are eligible for treatment for their sake should receive ART irrespective of gestational age.

* Pregnant women who do not need treatment should receive ART to prevent transmission to their babies

**Note**: Treatment type depends on the facility and mothers baseline investigations. All infants should receive daily NVP from birth until 6 weeks of age.  
This is irrespective of infant feeding practice.

___Be wise enough: Please read this little poem;___

___Be Wise. 
Use a rubber, 
Don’t try to be a hero
Otherwise you will be a zero,
Trying to prove yourself the man.___

___You like it skin to skin,
You say it tastes sweeter,
Be careful of your choice, don’t let it make you bitter,
Don’t go with his sweet lies ladies,
That skin to skin is ok,
And you haven’t both gone for the test together, 
Protect your life and future.___

___No regrets.
My advice abstain,
But if you must have a taste,
Don’t go sampling each and every dish around you,
Stick to one, greet may make you sick.
Be careful though,
Know your status,
It’s great to know where you stand.___

___Be wise,
Don’t go swimming in dangerous waters,
You may drown in undercurrents,
Know your partner’s status.___

___HIV/AIDS isn’t a death sentence.
You can still archive your dreams and goals.
If you any members of the family that have it, help him or her live positive,
What’s done is done,
And life is still there to be lived.
Be strong and courageous,
Never give up on them! 
Keep walking, keep dreaming and keep moving.___

Credit: image

___Thank for stopping by on my post___

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