the world in which a person lives or is travelling. For instance, in parts of Asia and Eastern Europe, the predominant mode of transmission is through the sharing of needles and syringes for the injection of drugs.
HIV Cannot be transmitted through Casual Contact
HIV cannot be transmitted through saliva, tears, urine or any other body fluid except blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. It is impossible to contract HIV by:
o Kissing, hugging or shaking hands o Insect or animal bites o Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses o Sitting on a toilet seat o Living with an HIV positive person o Swimming in the same pool as someone living with HIV o Touching or coming into contact with someone’ s tears or sweat
A number of studies of families living with an HIV positive family member have documented that there is no risk of HIV transmission via everyday contact.
If you are sexually active and have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse( without a condom) and / or share injection equipment, HIV may be transmitted from one partner to the other if one of you has HIV. The only way to be sure about your HIV status and your partners’ is to get an HIV test.
Basic HIV prevention Strategies
o Always discuss HIV status with potential sexual partners and negotiate safer sex; use a Basic HIV prevention strategies condom for vaginal and anal sex. o Avoid sharing injecting equipment, body piercing equipment or knives used to cut the skin. o Ensure only new or properly sterilised equipment is used for medical procedures. o Refer HIV pregnant women to Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission( PMTC) programmes. o Follow WHO guidelines for nursing mothers who are breastfeeding and HIV positive( check more at the end of this section).