General HIV/AIDS Questions & Answers:

General HIV/AIDS Questions & Answers: Q: Where did HIV come from? How was it spread? Who was the first person to die? A: Since HIV was discovered in 1981, researchers worked to pinpoint the origin of the virus. The most commonly accepted theory is that HIV came from a simian (monkey) virus that spread to humans in Africa, in the 1930 s-1940 s. The first person to be infected and how they got infected is unknown. HIV is spread through sex without a condom, from blood to blood contact and from mother to child through pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Through these ways HIV has spread throughout the world. Q: In which year was HIV virus introduced? A: It is unknown when HIV first infected humans. It is thought that the first infections may have been in the 1930 s or 1940 s. The exact date is unknown. Q: How many people are infected with HIV/AIDS in Uganda today? A: The exact number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Uganda is unknown because many people are newly infected with HIV/AIDS each year and many people have not been tested. It is estimated that between 6% and 10% of the Ugandan population is living with HIV/AIDS. This number is based on the number of people who have tested positive for HIV. This means that in 100 people as many as 10 may be infected. Because many people have not tested for the virus the, the real number of infected people may be much higher than 10%. Q: Why is it that AIDS is in the entire world? A: HIV/AIDS is transmitted human to human. Anywhere humans are there may be HIV/AIDS. As large as the world is, people interact with other people from different communities and countries. Wars, traveling, sexual practices, drug use and international trade bring people from all over the world in contact with each other. These connections also have helped spread HIV/AIDS all over the world. Q: If you are affected with AIDS can you menstruate? A: Often women who are very sick will not menstruate because their bodies are not fit enough to carry a child. However, until a woman is sick with AIDS she will still get her normal menstrual period. When a person reaches the point of having symptomatic HIV, their menstrual period may be affected. Q: How long can a person live with AIDS before they die? A: This is an excellent question. The answer is different for every person. Some people only live a few years after they are infected with HIV. Other people live 20 or more years. Living a healthy life style-eating many types of foods, exercising, being with friends and family- can help a person live longer. Once a person infected with AIDS starts to take medicine, they need to take it every day and as the doctor recommends to live long. At the same time, our bodies are different and react differently to HIV/AIDS. Some people may take good care of their health but still die earlier than people who are not caring for themselves. Yet living positively or making health decisions is important for every one living with HIV. Q: It takes how long for a person to know if they have HIV/AIDS? A: The length of time it may take for a person to know they are infected with HIV/AIDS depends on many factors. The biggest factor is when the person chooses to get tested. Some people do not think they are at risk for HIV, even it they are having sex without a condom. A person who doesn t think they are at risk may wait a long time to get tested for HIV/AIDS. People often choose to get tested once they feel sick or if they find out that someone they have had sex with or blood to blood contact with is infected. A person may have HIV for 10 or more years before they

start to feel sick. When they don t know they are infected they may infect many other people. For this reason, it is important to get tested for HIV to protect your and other people s health. Some people who are having sex choose to get tested regularly for HIV (once or twice a year). These people will be more likely to know if they are infected with HIV sooner than someone who waits for symptoms before they get tested. When you know you are infected at an early stage you can watch your health and protect the people you love. Don t wait to get sick to find out your status! Get tested if you have had sex or have shared blood! Q: When you are born with HIV/AIDS how long can you live? At what age can a baby born with AIDS die? A: Someone born with HIV may live into the 20s or die when they are still a child. Like with adults, the length of time someone can live depends on how well that person takes care of their health and on how their body responds to HIV. When children are infected from birth with HIV they are often smaller than other children and are sick more often. They may be sick all their life. Just like for other infected people, it is important for a child infected with HIV at birth to take good care of their health. Taking good care of your body can help a person with HIV/AIDS live a longer and healthier life. Q: Is it true that HIV/AIDS was manufactured by white men with the aim of reducing the population in Africa? A: No, it is not true. The most widely accepted theory is that HIV/AIDS originated in monkeys in Africa possibly in the 1930 s. It is still unknown how the disease was able to infect humans. Q: If a woman has AIDS and she gets pregnant almost every year and has some kind of abortion, does it really reduce her life expectancy so much? A: Abortions take a lot of time and energy to recover from. The human body is not made to handle a procedure of this kind every year. Something that needs to be addressed with anyone who asks a question like this is: why are precautions not being taken to prevent unwanted pregnancy? Methods of pregnancy prevention such as oral contraceptives and condoms are much safer alternatives than routine abortions. Also if someone who is HIV/AIDS infected is having sex without a condom they are putting other people at risk of getting HIV. People who have HIV/AIDS as well as those who are not infected need to take responsibility to protect themselves and others from disease and unwanted pregnancy. Q: What is the size of HIV; is it microscopic or macroscopic? A: The virus is microscopic. For it to be macroscopic we would have to be able to see it when looking just with our eyes. It is very small, so small that only very powerful microscopes can see it. Q: Why do the people infected with HIV/AIDS don t want to tell the truth to the uninfected people about their infection? A: Many people fear telling other people they are infected with HIV/AIDS because people often treat those who are infected differently. An infected person may fear being disliked, not included or even being harmed if they share with others that they are infected. It is only really important for you to know if a friend is infected with HIV if you are having or planning on having sex with that person or if you contact their blood. Ask your sex partners before you have sex if they have been tested for HIV. Offer to go with them so you can both get tested and agree beforehand to share your results. If you think a friend may be infected give them support but don t force them to share their HIV status. Their status is unimportant to your friendship and they may want you to treat them like any other friend instead of as friend with HIV/AIDS.

Q: What is the meaning of positive and negative in HIV? A: When we say that someone is HIV positive we mean that they have the HIV/AIDS virus in their body. They are infected with HIV. Someone who is HIV negative does not have the HIV virus in their body. HIV/AIDS Transmission and Prevention Questions: Q: When young children play sex and one is infected, can the other get infected? A: Even a child can pass HIV to another child if they are sharing sexual fluids or blood. Q: When a mosquito sucks blood from an infected person and transmits it to an HIV negative person, can the virus get to that person? A: You cannot get HIV/AIDS from mosquitoes. The mosquito does not inject blood from one person into the body of another person. Q: Is it true that HIV is transmitted through blood? Is it true that the virus of HIV can t live 30 minutes outside the body? A: HIV is transmitted through 4 common fluids: blood, male sexual fluid (semen), female sexual fluid (vaginal fluid) and breast milk. If any of these fluids from an HIV infected person gets into another person s body through sex without a condom, blood to blood contact or from mother to child, the exposed person can be infected. HIV is a very fragile virus. It dies quickly when it is outside of the human body. If it is in blood in a syringe (what is used for injections) that was used by an infected person, than it can live for as long as a week. This is because a syringe is closed to air. If it is exposed to air, like when you see blood that is on the ground, then it doesn t live very long. The exact time it can live depends on the situation. For example a drop of blood will easily dry and the virus will die. HIV can stay alive for a longer period in a pool of blood. Q: If one is infected and that person is having sores and he drinks from a bottle of soda and then an uninfected person drinks from the same bottle, can the uninfected person get HIV? A: There is very little risk in getting HIV from sharing a drink with an infected person even if that person has cuts on their mouth. The reason is that the amount of blood on a glass would be small or would be easily noticed. People don t usually choose to drink from a bloody glass. Our natural reaction of wanting to avoid drinking blood will help protect us in a situation like the one described. A person would have to have cuts on their mouth and drink from a bottle directly after the infected person for there to be any risk. Q: If a girl has sex with a boy and the blood cannot come from a boy or the girl can the sperm cause AIDS? A: If a girls gets sperm from an HIV infected boy into her body during sex she can be infected with HIV. HIV is not just passed through blood. It can be passed through the sexual fluids and breast milk of an HIV infected person. Q: Can one get AIDS when they kiss somebody with AIDS? A: HIV is usually not passed through kissing. There is only one case that is known where someone was infected with HIV through kissing. In that case, both people kissing had sores and cuts in their mouth. As a result, the people kissing were sharing blood as well as saliva. Generally, kissing does not pass HIV. But, if you are kissing someone who is infected and you both have cuts or sores in your mouth, then there is some risk of becoming infected. Q: Can you get AIDS through feelings?

A: No, you cannot get AIDS through feelings, only blood to blood contact, mother to child through pregnancy/birth or breastfeeding, or sexual contact. Q: Do homosexuals get HIV/AIDS? A: HIV does not discriminate based on who someone loves or has sex with. Heterosexuals (someone who loves people of the opposite sex) and homosexuals (someone who loves people of the same sex) can both get HIV/AIDS. When two people are playing sex and exchanging sexual fluids (semen or vaginal fluid) they are at risk for HIV. Homosexuals can get HIV in all the same ways that a heterosexual can get HIV (blood to blood, sexual contact, and from a mother to her child). Q: Is it true that if you are fat and eat well you can t get HIV? A: No. It doesn t matter if you are fat or thin you can get HIV if you are doing things that put you at risk. Many people associate HIV/AIDS with people who are very thin because people tend to lose weight when they are very sick with AIDS. Yet someone s size does not protect them from HIV/AIDS. Also, you can t tell by looking at someone if they are infected. A person may be fat but still have HIV or AIDS. Q: If you share things with a person who is HIV positive, like washing clothes for him, can you get HIV? They say that the virus moves from air; now when you inhale the air of the infected person can you get AIDS? A: You can t get HIV from washing someone s clothes or from breathing the same air as someone who is infected. We should not fear people who are HIV positive; normal contact with an infected person will not put you at risk. HIV/AIDS is only transmitted through blood to blood contact, sexual contact and/or mother to child, through giving birth and breastfeeding. Q: Can one get HIV through sweating? A: Although all fluids of the body of an HIV/AIDS infected person carry some amount of the HIV virus, the only fluids that can transmit the virus are blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. You cannot get HIV from sweating or touching someone s sweat. Q: If someone has AIDS and he/she has wounds all over his body and you put on his clothes when you also have a wound, can you get infected? A: Yes. One of the ways that HIV/AIDS is spread is through blood to blood contact. Generally, a person would not choose to put on bloody clothing. This situation is not realistic. Q: If you kiss some one s vagina after sex, can you get AIDS? A: If the woman is infected with HIV/AIDS you can get HIV from kissing her vagina before or after sex. You can also get HIV from kissing a man s penis. This activity is called oral sex. Oral sex is one of the types of sex that is known to spread HIV/AIDS. The risk of getting HIV from oral sex is lower than from sex where a penis is put in a woman s vagina. The person putting their mouth on the other person s private parts is especially at risk for getting HIV if they have cuts or sores in or around their mouth. Practicing oral sex also puts a person at risk for contracting other STDs, such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Herpes. Q: Is it true that if one sleeps with a woman or man who is infected with HIV/AIDS once they can become infected? A: By just sleeping next to a person, you can not get HIV. However, you play sex, yes, a person can become infected. You can get HIV/AIDS even from having unprotected sex with an infected person just one time. A person is at risk of getting HIV/AIDS each time they have sexual contact with an infected person.

Q: When a person with HIV/AIDS dies, does the virus die or does it move away from the body? A: The HIV virus is a very sensitive virus that can only survive in certain conditions. One of these conditions is that the virus must be inside a living body. However, if you come across a car crash with a lot of spilled blood from a person who is HIV positive and you come into contact with the blood, there is a chance that you could contract HIV through cuts or scrapes on your body. Q: Is it true that circumcised men have less of a chance of getting AIDS? A: Circumcision can lower but does not eliminate the risk of getting HIV. Why this is true is that when a man is circumcised he has less sensitive penis skin that can be exposed to HIV. A circumcised man just like one that is not circumcised needs to take precautions to prevent getting infected with HIV. These precautions can include: Abstinence-not having sex, waiting until marriage, being faithful and using condoms. Q: Is it true that Muslims do not get AIDS, especially men because they are circumcised? A: HIV/AIDS does not discriminate. Any person of any religion is at risk of contracting HIV if they practice unsafe sex or if they come into contact with the blood of an infected person with their own blood (open wound). However, many people that strictly abide by the rules of their religion choose to abstain from sex until marriage, which puts them at a lower risk for contracting HIV. This question also refers to circumcision; it has been shown that circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. However, even men who are circumcised are at risk for contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS. Q: Somebody told me that if you have sex with an infected person, even with a condom, you can be infected too because the virus is so small it can pass through a condom. Is this true? A: There is a chance of being infected with HIV even if you are using a condom. This is not because HIV can pass through a condom. It is because sometimes people are not careful when using condoms, don t know how to use them, don t put them on at the beginning of sex, use expired condoms, open them with their teeth and make holes in them or get sexual fluids in their mouths or other body openings before or after sex. When condoms are used correctly and consistently every time someone has sex they can reduce the risk of getting HIV. Try practicing using a condom on your penis or a banana before you play sex so you can learn to use them correctly. Follow the directions in the condom box carefully to avoid damaging the condom. Q: Is it true that if a woman carries out artificial insemination that she can contract AIDS? A: Any medical procedure which requires instruments that may break the skin and transmission of fluids (semen) that may carry the HIV virus put a patient at risk. However, sperm donors are put through thorough background checks, which include tests for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, so the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS from artificial insemination are very small. Q: If you have sex with an infected person and he ejaculates outside of the vagina, for example on the bed, is it possible to get HIV/AIDS? A: This is commonly referred to as the pull out method. This method is an ineffective way of protecting oneself from HIV because although the man may ejaculate outside the vagina, it is impossible to prevent contact between all of the male s sexual fluids and his partner. There may be pre-cum, for instance, that is infected with HIV. Pre-cum is a male sexual fluid excreted by the penis before the male ejaculates. In addition, this method offers no protection for the man, who is exposed to fluids within the woman that may be infected with HIV. HIV can also be passed on to the sexual partner if both people have open sores or wounds on their penis and

vagina through blood to blood contact. Also, other STDs can be passed on from one sexual partner to the other during acts of sex. It always better to protect oneself by wearing a condom or abstaining from sex. Q: They say that women have a greater chance of getting HIV than men. Is this true? A: Yes, this is true. There are many biological and social reasons that put women at a greater risk of getting HIV than men. The tissue (skin) of the vagina is more fragile than the skin of the man s penis. In both the man and woman s bodies there is skin called mucous membrane tissue. This tissue is fragile and can break easily during sex. A woman has more of this sensitive tissue in her vagina than a man does on his penis. This means that it is more likely for the tissue of the vagina to tear during sex. HIV can get into any of these tears. The vaginal tissue of a young woman, a woman under 20, is even more fragile than the vaginal tissue of a woman over 20. A woman s vaginal tissue is not done developing until she is in her 20 s. This means that it is even easier for a woman under 20 to become infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases than it is for an older woman. In addition, Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections (STDs) can cause open sores that leave a person more vulnerable to contracting HIV. Another side effect of STDs is sensitive skin that can break easily. It can be hard to see if a woman has any of these sores or rips because women s sexual organs are almost entirely internal-inside the body. Any open sores that a woman has provide a way for HIV to enter her body. Social risk factors for women include possible gender roles that give women very little control over their bodies. If a woman does not feel like she can say no to sex, she is at greater risk of getting infected with a sexually passed disease. Even if her boyfriend is playing sex with other people she may not feel like she can refuse him sex. In addition men have to decide to use condoms. Women often do not feel safe asking their husbands or boyfriends to use a condom. It is important that men and women both take responsibility when playing sex to ensure that they are protecting themselves. Q: Is it true that when you have type O blood you can t get AIDS? A: Having a certain blood type will not protect you from HIV/AIDS. People of all blood types can get HIV/AIDS. Q: Is it true that a woman with HIV/AIDS can produce one child with HIV and another who is not infected? If a pregnant mother is infected with HIV or AIDS, how can a baby in her womb be protected from infection? If a mother has HIV/AIDS when she is pregnant what can she do? A: Yes. On average, one in four babies born from HIV infected mothers are HIV positive. But not every baby born to an HIV infected mother will be infected. Sometimes an infected mom will give birth to many children who are not infected. At the same time other mothers will give birth to many infected children. An infected woman can pass HIV to her baby during pregnancy, delivery and through breastfeeding. If a woman is pregnant, she should test for HIV. If she is HIV infected she should consult a doctor to learn how to lower her risk of passing HIV to her baby. Breastfeeding can pass the disease from mother to child. A child breastfed by a mother with HIV has a 14% risk of getting HIV from breastfeeding. It is every mother s personal decision to breastfeed or not, but it is important to be aware of the risks. If a woman decides to breastfeed, she should not breastfeed for more than 6 months. The best thing a pregnant woman infected with HIV/AIDS can do is to work closely with her doctor. The doctor will help her identify different ways to reduce the risk of passing on

HIV/AIDS to her baby. Some of these methods include taking ARVs/HAART during the pregnancy and delivery, giving medication to the baby and having a caesarian section. Q: Can a baby get HIV during delivery? A: Delivery does put a baby at risk for contracting HIV if the mother is infected. It is recommended that if possible, mothers have a caesarian section to reduce this risk. An HIV infected mother should also work with a doctor to reduce the risk to the baby. Q: Can it happen where one person has HIV/AIDS and the other does not and they have unprotected sex many times yet the person who was not infected stays uninfected? A: There are many couples where one person is infected with HIV/AIDS and the other partner is not infected. These couples are called Serodiscordinant meaning that one partner has HIV/AIDS yet the other does not. Every time a person has sex with someone with HIV/AIDS when they are not using a condom they are at risk for HIV infection. Most couples who are Serodiscordinant stay Serodiscordinant only if they are using condoms consistently and correctly. Yet some people do not get HIV for years even though they are having unprotected sex with an infected person. The important thing to remember is that every time you play sex with an infected person you put yourself at risk for infection. If you have played sex with an infected person in the past without being infected you are not safe from infection in the future. Some people are infected the first time they have sex with an infected person. Others are infected after having sex many times. Remind students to be responsible and protect their health. Don t make risky decisions! Q: How can we prevent AIDS yet it is caused in many ways? A: HIV/AIDS is most commonly spread in Uganda through unsafe sex, sex without a condom. The best way to prevent the spread of HIV through sex is by practicing abstinence. If you do not abstain, it is important to wear a condom and use it correctly. It is also important to get tested for HIV and to ask people you have sex with to be tested. HIV can be passed from mother to child through pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding. Pregnant woman should be tested for HIV and, if positive, should work with a doctor to reduce the risk of passing HIV to their baby. The last way to contract the virus is blood to blood contact. It is important that you don t expose yourself to blood that may be contaminated with virus. Wear gloves when cleaning the wound of someone who may be infected with HIV. If you touch someone s blood, wash your hands. Make sure not to use medical equipment that has touched someone s blood but has not been cleaned. Q: Can you use birth control pills to avoid HIV? A: No. Birth control pills should only be used to prevent pregnancies; they cannot protect against STD s including HIV. Q: If someone has too much HIV in his/her body can it be even in saliva? A: If a person is HIV positive, the virus is in every fluid in their body, but the only common fluids that can spread HIV are blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. HIV Testing: Q: If you have just got AIDS assume today, how long does it take for the person to test positive? A: From the time of infection to the time an infected person will test positive can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months. In rare cases it can take as long as 6 months. This 2 week to 3 month period is called the window period. Q: How long does it take to know that you are infected after going for a blood test? A: In Uganda, the average test takes about 50 minutes.

Q: How many times should someone test for HIV? A: An individual should test 3 times without engaging in unsafe sex in between to get an accurate result. If the individual continues to engage in risky activities (playing sex without a condom, blood to blood contact) they need to get tested regularly: once every six months or once a year. The safest practice is to get tested and once you know your results avoid behavior that will put you at risk of getting HIV in the future of spreading the disease. Q: Is it true that if you re going for the HIV test and you first take a very cold Coca-Cola and panadol that you will test negative even if you have HIV? A: NO. Soda and headache medicine can not change HIV test results. Signs and Symptoms of HIV/AIDS: Q: How can you know that a person has HIV/AIDS? A: You can t tell by looking at someone if they have HIV/AIDS. The only way to know someone has HIV is for them to get tested and to share the result. Many people look for signs of sickness as way of judging if someone is infected yet the common sicknesses that people with AIDS suffer from can also affect people who are not infected with AIDS. People with HIV usually don not look for feel sick until they have had the virus for a long time. Q: It is now three years that I have had a cold/the flu. Is it a sign that I have AIDS? A: Persistent cold or flu symptoms alone are not indicative of the AIDS virus, although the early signs of AIDS include cold and flu symptoms. The best thing to do is to get and HIV/AIDS test if you ve put yourself at risk and to go to the doctor for a checkup. Q: What are the signs of AIDS? A: People often confuse HIV and AIDS. HIV is the first stage of infection and AIDS is developed over time by an HIV infected person. To put this a different way, a person with AIDS has HIV but not all people with HIV have reached the stage of AIDS. AIDS can only be diagnosed by a doctor. An AIDS diagnosis is based on the result of an HIV-specific blood test, and the person s physical condition. Someone is considered to have AIDS when they have 200 or T-Helper Lymphocyte Cells (a type of white blood cell) per cubic milliliter of blood (about a teaspoon) and evidence of some specific diseases that have been linked to AIDS. Some of these sicknesses include: candidiasis, cervical cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia and many other diseases. People often also experience weight loss not due to dieting, diarrhea, being tired, fever, nausea and vomiting, painful joints and muscles, difficulty breathing, urinary or fecal infections, vision or hearing loss and yeast infection of the mouth. It someone is having these symptoms they should get tested for HIV/AIDS. Some of these symptoms can also be caused by other sicknesses so they should not assume they have HIV/AIDS without being tested. Q: Why is it that when a person is suffering from T.B. (tuberculosis) they say that they have HIV? A: Many people in the later stage of HIV infection-aids- develop TB. As result, it is often assumed that if someone has TB they may have HIV/AIDS. The reality is that some people with TB do have HIV/AIDS and others may not be infected with HIV/AIDS. It a person has TB or thinks they have TB it is important for them to get tested for HIV. Q: I have a friend. She told me she may have HIV because she has severe coughing. Could this be true? I have had a common cold for many years where I wake in the morning with cold symptoms. Do I have AIDS? A: These symptoms could be caused by many different conditions or infections. For example, allergies can cause coughing and other cold symptoms. If you have ongoing symptoms of a cold

or the flue you should see a doctor. A doctor can help identify the cause. If you have put yourself at risk for HIV by playing sex without a condom, having blood to blood contact or if you were borne to an HIV/AIDS infected mother you should go for HIV testing. Q: I have a friend who told me that she just played sex once but never got pregnant but when her menstrual periods are at the door she feels some pain. Does she have AIDS? A: Many women have some pain in their abdomen around the time of their menstrual period. This pain is not a sigh of HIV/AIDS but is instead a normal sign of menstruation. If a person is having pain or sees and changes in her private parts even if they have not had sex they should visit a doctor to test for infections. It they have played sex without a condom they should be tested for sexually transited infections. Treatment and Care Q: Can someone with HIV be cured and/or treated? A: There is no cure for HIV. This means that once a person is infected with the virus the can not get rid of it. There is treatment for HIV. Usually here in Uganda people start treatment for HIV when they are already sick with AIDS or their immune system is already very weak. The treatment does not get rid of HIV or AIDS but it can help someone stay healthy and increase a person s life span. It can control the HIV in their body so that the body is able to recover some but it can t destroy HIV. Q: Is there medicine for AIDS A: Yes there is medicine for HIV/AIDS. This medicine does not cure HIV or AIDS. These medicines are called Highly Active Antiretroviral Drugs/Therapy. A person with AIDS usually takes several types of medications at one time to fight HIV in its different stages of development in the human body. People with HIV/AIDS may also take medications for different sicknesses they get as result of HIV/AIDS. The medications to treat HIV/AIDS and the other diseases associated with it can help a person fight the sicknesses and HIV but will not get rig of HIV. Some people also use alternative medicines like those from traditional healers. If a person is using alternative medicine it is important that they consult a doctor to make sure the type of medicine is safe and that it won t make other medicines they are taking less affective. Q: How can an HIV positive person live a confident life? If someone has got HIV/AIDS is If someone has got HIV/AIDS is there any process for that person to live longer? A: There are many things that an HIV/AIDS positive person can do to live a confident healthy life. Doctors and counselors refer to the choice to live a confident healthy life as positive living. Positive living is when a person with HIV/AIDS takes care of their body, mind and spirit. Some ways people do this include eating good foods such as a balance of fruits and vegetables, meat, grains and starches; exercising; keeping the home and body clean; sleeping under a mosquito net; boiling drinking water; getting plenty of rest; doing activities (arts, crafts) that are enjoyable; meeting with friends and other support groups including churches; getting support and counseling from friends and doctors and taking medications as scheduled with a doctor. Doing these things can help someone living with HIV/AIDS feel good about themselves and stay healthy. Q: Why should people with HIV/AIDS eat special foods, like vegetables? A: It is important for anyone to eat a healthy and balanced diet including fruits and vegetables, but people who are infected with HIV/AIDS are very vulnerable to infection. For this reason it is especially important for them to eat nutritious foods. Q: When your friend is with AIDS what can you do to help them and what about sharing things?

A: You don t need to worry about getting HIV/AIDS through sharing common things like clothing, a comb or a glass of water. Avoid sharing toothbrushes and razors because there is a small risk for getting HIV from sharing these items. Remember that HIV is hard to catch. You can give your friend support and care without putting yourself at risk for HIV/AIDS. People living with HIV/AIDS face a lot of challenges. Your support is very important to their health an wellbeing. You can support a friend by listening to them when they are having a hard time with their sickness or other issues, spending time with them, encouraging them and offering to help when they are sick. Condom Use: Q: What is a condom? A: A condom is a latex or polyurithane (thin plastic) barrier that is used on the penis or in the vagina (only female condoms) during sex to prevent pregnancy and the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections (STD/STIs) including HIV/AIDS. Though kveras are also made out of plastic, they are weak and can brake easily if used for sex. Condoms are made for sex and are very strong. If used correctly and every time someone plays sex, they are over 90% affective at preventing HIV/AIDS and unplanned pregnancy. Q: When you use a condom more than one time, can t it brake and get AIDS? Q: Can somebody use a condom several times? Q: For how long can I use a condom, and when should I change? A: A condom should not be used more than once. If a condom is used twice there is a good chance that it will break. Also the sexual fluids still on the condom from the first use can cause pregnancy or infection with an STD/STI including HIV/AIDS. Use a new condom each time you have sex! Q: Can I get AIDS when I use a condom? A: It someone does not use a condom correctly, it has expired or they don t use condoms every time they have sex they can become infected with HIV if they have sex with someone who is infected. It a person uses a condom every time they have sex and they use it correctly they have very little risk of getting HIV through sex. Q: If the condom bursts in a girls vagina, can she get pregnant? If the condom bursts can I get HIV? A: If a condom bursts during sex a the woman can get pregnant. If the condom burst it also does not stop the spread of HIV. If you notice that the condom has broken while you are playing sex you should stop sex, take off the broken condom and put on a new condom. Q: How many condoms do you use when you are playing sex with an HIV infected person? A: You should use one condom each time you have sex. It you use more than one condom at a time the condoms are more likely to break. The important thing to remember is that you need to use a condom each time you have sex in order to avoid HIV infection. Q: If I have my girlfriend and want time to time to play sex without a condom, what can I do about that? A: There are many things to consider when choosing to play sex without a condom. Two important things include pregnancy and STD/STI infection. If you choose to have sex without a condom you need to think about how you will deal with these possible results. The most important thing for you to think about before you choose to play sex without a condom is are you ready and willing to deal with the possible consequences? Are you ready to be a father? Is your girlfriend ready to be a mom? How would you provide for a baby? Is loosing your health or

getting your girlfriend pregnant worth the pleasures of sex without a condom? If used correctly, condoms are very affective at helping people avoided pregnancy and STD/STIs. Often people forget or choose not to use condoms when they feel they are in love or trust their partner. Love and trust is not enough to prevent HIV/AIDS, pregnancy or STD/STIs. Some women choose to take birth control pills that you can get from a doctor to prevent pregnancy. These pills will not prevent infection with STD/STIs. They are affective at avoiding pregnancy when used correctly but do require taking them every day. Using condoms is often an easier and more affective for couples who may be busy and forget to take the pill. It would be a good decision for both you and your girlfriend to get tested for STD/STIs before you choose to play sex without a condom. If you have ever played sex without a condom you should also consider getting tested. Q: If I use a condom for too long a time when playing sex will my life not be affected, especially my penis? A: The important thing about condoms is that you use them correctly, that you use only one at a time, and that you change the condom each time you decide to play sex. They are completely safe and will in no way shorten your life or negatively affect your reproductive organs. The amount of time that you play sex will not decrease the strength of the condom, but it is important that you use a new condom the next time you decide to play sex. Q: Are condoms 100% sure? Q: These days people use condoms, but they get pregnant, why? Q: They say that a condom is 100% effective, but when they reach them here in Uganda they become 35% effective. Is it correct? A: No, they re not, but the most common reason for their failure is incorrect usage. When you know how to use a condom correctly, they are very effective at protecting against STD s and unplanned pregnancies. They are over 90% effective, and they are an easy way to keep yourself safe while playing sex. If you make the decision to play sex, you should be wearing a condom. Q: When you re putting in high power can you break the condom? Q: Can a condom burst? A: When used correctly, condoms are very strong. It is a good idea to use a water based lubricant if you are concerned that the condom may break, but exerting lots of physical power will not break a condom. Q: Suppose I use 2 condoms: one in the midway of the penis and another reaches the pubic hair. Am I correct? Q: What happens to a man who plays sex with a woman having HIV/AIDS when putting on more than 2 condoms? Q: Is it pleasurable to put on more than one condom? A: The only correct way to use a condom is one at a time. Condoms are strong and can stretch, so it is unnecessary to use 2. If you use more than one at a time, the condoms will both easily break. It does not increase pleasure to wear more than one condom. Q: Why is it that condoms cause cancer? A: This is a myth. Condoms have no negative effects on the human body. They are absolutely safe, and they protect us from STD s and unplanned pregnancies. Q: What is the effect of using a condom and the withdraw method during sex intercourse? A: Condoms are very effective at preventing unplanned pregnancies, but using both methods together will decrease the chances even more of an unplanned pregnancy. If you are very concerned and wanting to be cautious about getting pregnant, you may practice this method.

Q: Some may refuse to put on a condom because he may be feeling too much pain after using it. What brings this? A: When condoms are used correctly, they should not cause any pain. They are absolutely safe to use. If someone is experiencing pain, it could be that they are putting the condom on incorrectly, that they need a bigger condom that isn t so tight, or that their needs to be more lubrication while playing sex. If you use lubrication, make sure that it is water based lubricant. Q: Can t an expired condom cause disease? A: An expired condom can t cause disease, but they should not be used. The expiration date is there for a reason, because they are less effective after this date. Q: Can a condom be damaged when sex is played with a person who is a virgin? A: When you use a condom correctly, the condom will not break. If a person is a virgin, it is a good idea to use extra lubricant (water based) while playing sex to reduce friction. It is equally important to use a condom when playing sex with a virgin and playing sex with someone who is not a virgin. Q: What if the condom is put in a fridge; is it safe then? A: Condoms are meant to be kept at normal temperatures (room temperatures). They are not meant to be kept in very hot places or very cold places, and when they are it can reduce their effectiveness. Q: What is the use of that juice that we find in that condom? A: The juice in the condom is lubricant. The lubricant is meant so that there is less friction when playing sex. It can make sex more pleasurable, and it ensures that the condom will not break because of too much friction. Q: Can a condom remain in the girl s vagina? A: Yes, this can happen, but the man pulls out of the woman s vagina correctly then it won t happen. When 2 people are finished playing sex, the man should pull his penis out while it is still erect. When he does this, he should hold onto the condom at the base of his penis. This way the condom will always come out. When a man removes the condom from himself, he should remove it while standing away from the woman so that none of his fluids that may be on the condom touch her. Q: Can a man and a woman with AIDS use a condom? A: Yes they can! It s especially important if you are infected to always wear a condom when playing sex. Even if both partners have AIDS they can pass different types of the virus or even more of the virus between themselves if they are not wearing a condom. Q: If the girl is still a virgin are you supposed to use a condom? A: Yes! No matter if a woman has never played sex or she has played sex many times, you should use a condom. Disease can still be transmitted to virgins, and condoms are also affective at preventing unplanned pregnancies. Q: When a condom is damaged does HIV pass through it? A: No one should use a damaged condom or a condom that has expired. A damaged condom if it is broken could very well transmit HIV, and an expired condom may break if you use it. Pregnancy/Family Planning

Q: What is love? What is sex? A: These are opinion questions. What I mean by an opinion question is that people have many different opinions on the answers to these questions. These are questions that you can ask a trusted adult that you respect. One way that love can be defined is when someone cares very deeply for another person. Sex again is defined differently by different people. It can include when a man has his penis in a woman s vagina, when a man or woman has his or her mouth to another person s private parts or other touching of someone s private parts. HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections can be passed any time an HIV infected man or women s sexual fluid gets into another person s mouth, penis, butt or through cuts on the skin. Q: Can a 13 year old boy make pregnancy? If I was 12 years, is it possible to impregnate someone? A: Even if a boy is 12 or even younger he can make a female pregnant if he has sex with out a condom. It is the boy s ejaculation or sexual fluid that makes a woman pregnant not his age. Menstruation Q: Why do I have pain during menstruation period? A: During menstruation, the womb squeezes in order to push out the lining. The squeezing can cause pain in the lower belly or lower back. The pain may begin before bleeding starts or just after it starts. Q: If I have not started my menstruation period and my friends have am I okay? A: Yes! All girls get their periods at different times. It depends on the rate at which you are growing. Usually, you will receive your menstruation period after your breasts and the hair on your body start to grow. Q: Can you get pregnant during your menstruation period? A: Yes. You can get pregnant anytime you have unprotected sex or not on a family planning method. Hard to Answer Questions Q: Is it true that when you are borne again, you can t get HIV? Can Jesus cure HIV/AIDS? Can you cure AIDS by paying? Can these Saveds treat HIV/AIDS through Jesus prayer? There is a woman in my church that was cured of AIDS through prayer. A: You may receiver many variations of this question. Be sensitive and careful how you answer it because people can easily be offended when you question their faith or when the perceive that you are questioning their faith. There are people from all religions that are infected with HIV/AIDS. People from all religions are also dieing of AIDS. Religion is not a shield or cure for infection with HIV/AIDS. Religious faith and a spiritual community can help encourage people infected with HIV/AIDS and give them the strength to live a healthy life. Many people living with HIV/AIDS count on the support of a religious community to help them maintain their health. Some times people think or are told that they have been healed from HIV/AIDS yet they have not gone for testing. They may feel much more healthy when involved with a spiritual group but they are not cured. At the same time that spirituality can be helpful in fighting HIV/AIDS it can not cure HIV/AIDS. We have to be responsible for protecting ourselves from HIV/AIDS rater than counting on religion, religious leaders or Jesus to heal us. If we are acting in ways that put us at risk for HIV or cause us to spread HIV to others than we are being irresponsible. It is not the job of God to clean up after us.

Also, many religions discourage activities like sex before marriage and infidelity that put people at risk for HIV. People need to consider if they are truly acting inline with their religion when they are putting themselves at risk for HIV/AIDS. If they are not acting in line with the values of their religious faith but expecting continual forgiveness and healing they should take some time to consider their role in protecting themselves. Sexually Transmitted Diseases/ Infections Q: What should I do if I have Chlamydia? A: You must seek medical treatment! The only way to treat Chlamydia is by taking antibiotics. Be sure to consult a medical officer before starting any treatment, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Q: Can you get infected with STDs in other ways than playing sex-rubbing bodies or kissing? A: Yes. HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through blood-blood contact, such as through sharing the same needle or mother-child transmission. Q: Can someone have an STD and not know? A: Yes. People can have no sign of having contracted an STD until several weeks or even months after contracting one. For example, a person infected with HIV may not know until 3 months after having contracted it. Q: When you have Gonorrhea and Typhoid and Syphilis, does it mean that you are HIV positive and you need to be tested? A: Having all three STDs does not necessarily mean that you are also HIV positive. However, it is always a good idea to be tested for HIV/AIDS if you have contracted other STDs, since people with HIV/AIDS are more likely to contract other STDs than those whom are negative. Q: When a friend tells you that they have an STD does it mean that they are HIV positive? A: The presence of other STD s does not mean necessarily that you have HIV; however it does mean that you have likely been practicing unsafe sex which is the number one cause of transmission of HIV in Uganda. It is wise to get tested for HIV/AIDS if you have put yourself at risk. Also, having STD s puts you at a higher risk for contracting HIV/AIDS; they often leave open sores in the genital region that allow the virus to pass easily into the body, and as the body rushes blood to sites of infection in the body, there will be a concentration of blood in the genital region, putting you at higher risk for transmission. If you have already contracted STD s, the best thing to do is seek medical attention, and go for HIV/AIDS testing to ensure your status. Q: Apart from STD s, what are the other effects of sex? A: Sex should not be defined by the presence of STD s. We should encourage people to practice safe sex and emphasize that abstinence and remaining faithful are the best ways to protect yourself, however playing safe sex with a trusted partner, when both partners consent, can be a very positive thing. Q: Apart from HIV, what are other diseases you can get from playing sex? A: Below is a list of the more common sexually transmitted diseases: Q: Is it true that if someone has syphilis and goes for HIV testing they will test positive? A: Having another STD will not cause a person to test positive when he or she is actually negative, however having another STD puts a person at higher risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, so it is wise to go for testing if you know already that you have syphilis or any other STD.

Other Q: If one frequently masturbates can it also be a problem? A: Masturbation is a way of relieving sexual tension. The only noticeably negative side effect is possible chaffing of the genitals and skin irritation. Moral Q: I have my girlfriend but her parents died of AIDS, but for me I am not sure whether she has the disease or not. Please I am asking for guidance if I am to leave the girl or not. Q: When we check for HIV and my partner is positive and I am negative, is it better to abandon her? A: Although a person in this situation may be given guidance, it is ultimately a decision that must be made between the boyfriend and girlfriend. A girl who has just lost both of her parents is in a very vulnerable point in her life, and is probably suffering from many emotions, sadness and frustration. It s important that people reach out to her instead of fear her. Encourage the girl to get testing, because if her parents were infected with AIDS, then there is a possibility that the girl contracted the virus also. There is no need to fear someone with HIV. Everyday contact will not put you at risk for contracting the virus, but it is important that if your girlfriend is in fact HIV positive that you do not engage in risky behaviors. If you play sex, it is extremely important that you practice safe sex; use a condom, every time. The safest thing to do is abstain. There is no easy answer to a question like this one, but support and encouragement can help someone make the decision that is right for them. Q: If you really love your partner and you have a lot of feelings for him/her, but you don t play sex, but then you must have romance whenever you meet together. Can that cause anything, and if so what causes that? Q: If a person gets a boyfriend and they are together without sex is it good or bad? Q: If you feel you love your boyfriend and he asks you to play sex, what can you do? A: Sex and love are not the same things. It is the decision of the individuals whether sex is appropriate or not. There are many ways to be intimate with a person without having sex, and many times, abstinence is the best decision that a couple can make. Waiting to have sex is never a bad thing, and there are many other ways of being romantic with someone and feeling close to someone without playing sex. You should never engage in any act that you are uncomfortable with, and it s always okay to say no. Never do anything more than what you want to do, what you feel is okay for you. Q: Is it bad to play sex with a person who has got AIDS? Q: But what if I love my boyfriend when he is infected, should I agree to do sex? A: This is a decision that an individual must make, but it is important that he or she know the risks before making that decision. There is never a guarantee that you won t contract HIV if you are playing sex with a person who is HIV positive. There are many ways to show someone that you love and care about them, and there are many ways to be intimate and romantic with someone without playing sex. If you decide to play sex with someone who is HIV positive, you must absolutely wear a condom. Q: Which age should people start playing sex? Q: What is the right time for a boy to lose his virginity? A: You should play sex when you are ready to play sex. This age is different for any person because it depends on how you feel about a person, what you feel comfortable doing. Playing sex when you are not ready can be harmful; this is something that should be discussed between the two people in the relationship, and when both people decide that they are ready, then it is the appropriate time.