H I V AND A I D S

04 How does HIV enter the body ?

(I) Through unprotected penetrative Sex with infected person.

You could get infected with HIV if you have Sex with an infected Man or Woman.
If you have Sex with commercial sex worker (Prostitute) or any woman with multiple sexual partners or a man who has multiple sexual partners.
If you have Sex with many different casual partners, you have a HIGH CHANCE of getting infected with HIV.
You might get infected the very first time you have sex if your partner is already carrying the infection.

(II) Through contaminated blood and blood products.

HIV can enter the body when contaminated blood or blood products which contain HIV is given to person through blood transfusion.
If injecting equipments contaminated by HIV are used e.g. by drug users to inject drugs (such as heroin) into their bodies.

HIV can enter the body when medical instruments contaminated by HIV are not cleaned and sterilized properly.
HIV can enter the body when sharp tools used to cut the skin (such as ear-piercing and tattoo making) are not cleaned and sterilized properly.

(III) Through infected mother to child.

A pregnant woman who has HIV in her body can pass the infection on to her baby in her womb or during birth.

Experts are of the opinion that about 1 out of 3 babies born to infected mothers are likely to be born infected with HIV.
There has been evidence that these babies usually do not live longer than two of five years.
There are very little chances of infected mothers passing on the HIV infection to her child through breast milk.