HIV Prevention
HIV Prevention
Sexual transmission of HIV can be prevented by:
- faithfulness to a partner
- consistent and proper use of male or female condoms.
- one partner of a couple who is HIV-positive being on antiretroviral therapy and having an undetectable viral load
- people not infected with HIV taking ‘pre-exposure prophylaxis’, a course of anti-retroviral drugs
- voluntary medical male circumcision, which reduces a man's risk of contracting HIV.
Good quality condoms are the only currently available product that protects against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. When used properly, condoms are a proven and effective method of HIV prevention for both women and men.
For condoms to provide effective protection, they must be used properly and consistently. Improper use can cause the condom to slip or break, reducing protection.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a preventive measure that enables people to reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV. Such prophylaxis is the use of antiretroviral drugs by HIV-negative people to prevent being infected by it. It means that a healthy person should take the drugs before the infection occurs, if there is a high risk of contracting HIV.
Other types of HIV transmission can be prevented by:
- ensuring that blood safety standards are met and that blood and blood products have been tested for HIV
- using disposable or sterilized equipment to prevent transmission of the virus in medical settings, tattoo parlours and other places where interventions involve cuts or punctures of the skin or mucous membranes.
- refusing to inject drugs – although people who do inject drugs can use new disposable needles and syringes or reusable needles and syringes that have been properly sterilized. Drug users can also opt for other preventive measures such as opioid substitution therapy.
How can mother-to-child transmission of HIV be prevented?
The virus can be transmitted from an HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy and childbirth, and through post-partum breastfeeding. It is estimated that the risk of transmission from HIV-positive mothers during pregnancy and childbirth is 15 to 30 per cent if no preventive measures are taken. Breastfeeding increases the risk of HIV transmission by 10 to 15 per cent. This risk depends on clinical factors, as well as on the methods and duration of breastfeeding. Effective antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding reduces the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to 5 per cent or less.
Behaviours and conditions that increase the risk of getting HIV:
- having unprotected anal or vaginal sex
- having another sexually transmitted infection such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and bacterial vaginosis
- using alcohol or drugs during sex
- sharing contaminated needles, syringes and other injection equipment and drug solutions while injecting drugs
- failure to follow safety precautions when performing injections, blood transfusions, transplantation and medical procedures that require the use of non-sterile instruments to make incisions or puncture the skin
- occasional sharp injuries, including to health-care workers.
