0.1 Hiv-aids basics for teachers  (Page 2/3)

When a person is infected with HIV, the immune system tries to fight off the virus and does make some antibodies, but theseantibodies are not able to defeat HIV.

The person is said to be HIV Positive. Many people do not feel ill at all when they are first infected. They may have no symptoms for along time. They have not yet got AIDS.

HIV acts by gradually destroying the immune system of the infected person. After about 5 to 10 years (although much earlier in aminority of cases) the immune system becomes so weak - or 'deficient'- that it cannot fight off infections as it used to. (For reading sources, click here .)

HIV is found in body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breastmilk. It is passed from one person to another - ortransmitted - only in very specific ways. These are:

• through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman or between two men;
• through infected blood - for example through contaminated blood transfusions or unsterilised needles and syringes. (In most placestoday blood transfusions are completely safe because the blood istested for HIV before it is used to treat patients); and
• from an infected mother to her baby while it is still in the womb or during childbirth or during breastfeeding.

HIV does not spread through "casual" everyday contact between people.

It is not transmitted by coughing, or sneezing, or by touching or hugging someone who has the virus.

It is not spread in air, water or in food, or by sharing cups, bowls, cutlery, clothing, or toilet seats.

And HIV is not transmitted by biting insects such as mosquitoes, because the quantity of blood on their mouthparts is toominute. (For reading source, click here .)

Further Resource: UNAIDS

Aids

Eventually the infected [HIV] person may lose weightand become ill with diseases like persistent severe diarrhea, fever, or pneumonia, or skin cancer. He or she has now developed AIDS.

At the moment, in spite of much research, there is no cure for HIV or for AIDS and so, sadly, it is almost certain that peoplediagnosed with AIDS will die. (For reading sources, click here .)

The role of culture

Around the world a variety of cultural practices and traditions increase young people's risk for HIV/AIDS. For the most part,these practices and traditions affect young people more than adults - and affect young women even more than young men.

Women's Status

In many societies women are expected and taught to subordinate their own interests to those of their partners. With suchexpectations, young women often feel powerless to protect themselves against HIV infection and unintended pregnancies. Often, adolescentgirls endure sexual coercion and abuse. In Kenya 40% of sexually active female secondary school students said that they have been forced or trickedinto sex (3). In Cameroon 40% of female adolescents reported that their first intercourse was forced (313). Young women sometimes give in to havingsex for fear that, if they refuse, they will be raped anyway (205).