HIV what you need to know

Transcription

1 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 1 HIV what you need to know A GUIDE TO FREE SERVICES AND RESOURCES

2 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 2

3 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 3 You cannot tell by looking at someone if they have HIV. Having HIV does not mean that a person has done something wrong. HIV is a medical condition that is found in every country in the world. It can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender, sexuality, relationship status, ethnicity or religion. 3

4 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 4 4

5 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 5 HIV KEY FACTS HIV is a treatable infection. There is no cure, but medicines are available which help people with HIV to keep well and live healthier lives. Having an HIV test is the only way to know if you have HIV or not. Many people do not have any symptoms for many years and are not aware that they are living with HIV. Someone who has HIV but does not get treatment, will over time, develop a number of serious illnesses and become very unwell. The sooner a person is tested for HIV the better. Everyone in Scotland including refugees and asylum seekers can access free HIV testing, treatment and care via the National Health Service (NHS). 5

6 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 6 HOW CAN A PERSON GET HIV? HIV is an infection found in blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluid. You can only get HIV from someone who already has the virus, but only if the virus gets into your bloodstream. HIV CAN GET INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: Direct blood to blood contact. Through having unprotected sex. From an infected mother to her child, at delivery or from breastfeeding. YOU CANNOT GET HIV FROM: Sharing food with someone who has HIV. Sharing cooking or eating utensils with someone who has HIV. Kissing someone with HIV. Shaking hands or hugging someone with HIV. Using the same toilet as someone who has HIV. 6

7 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 7 A PERSON LIVING WITH HIV COULD HAVE: Contracted HIV from having sexual intercourse without a condom. Been infected with HIV from their mother during delivery or during breastfeeding. This is called Mother to Child transmission. Been given infected blood (or blood products) during a blood transfusion. In the UK blood has been screened since 1984 and is therefore safe. Been infected with HIV because a contaminated needle and syringe was used. This could be from sharing injecting equipment to take drugs, or in a hospital or clinic in a country that did not have good hygiene processes and where equipment was used on more than one person. 7

9 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 9 WHO SHOULD HAVE AN HIV TEST? If you have never tested for HIV you should consider a test. If you have tested before, but in the last six months you have had unprotected sex, shared injecting equipment or been in hospital in a country where equipment was not sterile or was used on more than one person, you should consider a test. All pregnant women in Scotland are offered an HIV test as part of their routine antenatal care. It is important for an expectant mother to have this test because if she has HIV there are a number of treatments that can be offered to greatly reduce the risk of the baby becoming infected. Being HIV positive does not mean that you will not be able to have children. There are medical procedures that can enable HIV positive people to have a child safely, but it is important to know if you have HIV, so that you or your partner and the baby are not put at risk of getting HIV. Because HIV can be passed on through sexual intercourse, anyone thinking about having sex without a condom, even if they are in a relationship, including marriage and civil partnerships, should consider testing before doing so. 9

11 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 11 WHAT DOES AN HIV TEST INVOLVE? An HIV test involves a trained health professional taking a small amount of blood from you, usually from your arm. If you get infected with HIV, your body reacts to the infection and produces antibodies. The test looks to see if you have these HIV antibodies in your blood. If you do have HIV antibodies this means you have HIV and this is usually called being HIV positive. After you have been exposed to HIV it can take up to 12 weeks for your body to develop HIV antibodies and this is called the window period. This means that if you were infected shortly before you have a test, it would not show up. In this case a repeat test will need to be arranged. Results can take up to 2 weeks depending on where you have your test done. HIV testing is confidential. A Health Professional will not tell anyone other than those involved in your care that you have had a test. They will also not tell anyone the results of that test without your permission or unless there were special circumstances. If a doctor needed to tell someone else, they would discuss this with you first. 11

12 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 12 WHERE CAN I GET A TEST? There are a number of places where you can get an HIV test. More information is available about these services at the end of this leaflet. WHAT IF I AM HIV POSITIVE? If your test shows that you have HIV you will be referred to a specialist for further advice, support and treatment. All of this is free. Having HIV may be a big shock but remember it is a medical condition and there are treatments that can help you stay healthy and well. Being HIV positive does not mean that you can t get married or have a sexual partner. However, if you do test positive it is important to discuss your HIV status with future and current sexual partners. Talking to partners is important so that they can make decisions about whether they want to be tested. Talking about HIV with current or future partners also means that you can make informed decisions about reducing any risks, for example using condoms. 12

13 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 13 There have been some cases in the UK where people have been prosecuted for passing on HIV to sexual partners. This has generally happened when the person with HIV has not told the person they were having sex with that they had HIV and the virus has been passed on. Telling partners can be a difficult thing to do, but there are professionals, like sexual health advisers, who can offer advice and guidance on this. Using condoms with partners, even those who are also HIV positive is recommended, as it will help protect you against other STIs. Having HIV will not affect your immigration status or asylum claim. You will not be refused asylum because you are HIV positive, but having HIV does not guarantee refugee status or right to remain either. Having HIV does not mean you will be unable to get life insurance or a mortgage; there are companies that will offer mortgages and life insurance to people who are HIV positive, but there might be less choice and it could be more expensive. In the UK there are laws protecting people living with HIV from discrimination. If you think you have been discriminated against because of your HIV status, you should seek advice from one of the HIV support organisations listed in this booklet. 13

15 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 15 DO I NEED TO DO ANYTHING IF I AM HIV NEGATIVE? If you test negative then you can take steps to make sure you stay that way. Having one negative test does not mean that you will always test negative. If you have been at risk any time after a negative test you should think about testing again. An HIV test can only tell you about your HIV status. It cannot tell you if your current or previous partners are infected. Other people can only find out if they go for a test themselves. THINGS TO REMEMBER The earlier a person is tested, the better. They can make important decisions about their health and they will have a better chance of living a healthy life. HIV is a medical condition that can affect anyone. HIV testing is free. There is free medication available to treat HIV. 15

16 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 16 CONTACTS Counselling Clinic: Brownlee Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0YN This service offers testing and treatment for Hepatitis and HIV. You need to make an appointment before attending the service. SANDYFORD SERVICES At Sandyford you can access HIV testing as well as support for a number of sexual, emotional and reproductive health issues. You can either make an appointment by phoning or visiting the service or there are times of the day when you can drop in (go without an appointment) and wait to be seen. You must arrive before the end of the drop in session in order to be seen that day. Contact individual services to find out about opening times or go to: Sandyford: Sandyford Place, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G3 7NB Sandyford East: Parkhead Health Centre, 101 Salamanca Street, Glasgow G31 5BA 16

17 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 17 Sandyford North: Springburn Health Centre, 200 Springburn Way, Glasgow G21 1TR Sandyford South East: Govanhill Health Centre, Community Wing 233 Calder Street, Glasgow G42 7DR Sandyford South West: Pollok Health Centre, 21 Cowglen Road, Glasgow G53 3EQ Sandyford East Renfrewshire: Barrhead Health Centre, 201 Main Street, Barrhead G78 1SA Sandyford Renfrewshire: The Russell Institute, Causeyside Street, Paisley PA1 1UR Sandyford Inverclyde: Block 1 and 2, Residential Complex, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Larkfield Road, Greenock PA16 0XN Sandyford West Dunbartonshire: Ground Floor, Old Maternity Block, Vale of Leven Hospital, North Main Street, Alexandria G83 0VA C-card Service: The C-Card service provides a range of free condoms from a variety of locations across the health board area. 17

19 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 19 HIV SUPPORT SERVICES African Support Project: or This service is for Africans living with HIV within Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Provides peer and emotional support, information, advocacy and volunteering opportunities. HIV Peer Support Project: Support Service for all people living with HIV within Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Gay Men s Health: Fifth Floor, 48 Albion Street, Glasgow G1 1LH Service for gay men including support groups and counselling for those living with HIV. Terrence Higgins Trust (Scotland): Douglas Street, Glasgow G2 4HF Confidential helpline: Services for people living with HIV include welfare rights and benefits advice, one to one practical and emotional support and group work. 19

20 HAI0316_NHS HIV leaflet:layout 1 25/6/09 10:39 Page 20 Public Education Resource Library: Version 1: June 2009, review date: 2011