In honor of pride month coming to an end, I'd like to share an awareness project for HIV/AIDS I created with some of my university classmates!
What are the signs of infection?
There's a lot of myths about HIV/AIDS. How do we differentiate between fact and fiction?
During the initial epidemic in the 80s, many people believed that HIV/AIDS only affects groups like the LGBTQ+ community or people who engage in certain sexual behaviors. This statement is false and rooted in prejudice, homophobia, and stigma; HIV/AIDS is mainly transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing of needles, or from mother to child through breastfeeding or childbirth. Anyone can get HIV/AIDS, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
(tw: bestiality, SA, and child SA mentions)
HIV/AIDS is still an ongoing pandemic crisis in many parts of the world, especially in poorer countries that don't have access to good medical care. Countries like South Africa also have traditional beliefs of their own that are misconceptions about HIV/AIDS.
In some parts of South Africa, there is a belief in the "virgin cleansing myth." HIV-positive men, believing they will get a blessing from having sex with a virgin, will rape or have sexual intercourse with virgins, which typically refers to children and infants. This is false and not only continues the spread of HIV but also perpetuates the culture of child rape.
Another common myth encountered in parts of South Africa in the late 90s and early 2000s is that "having sex with an animal prevents people from getting AIDS." This myth leads to not only adults but even young boys having sex with animals such as goats in the hopes that it will protect them from AIDS. This myth is not only completely false, but this is also a dangerous and cruel practice that is illegal across most continents, if not all.
How do I prevent HIV/AIDS?
Practicing safe sex and utilizing condoms properly is the best thing you can do for yourself and for your partners to prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs. If you or your partner suspect you may have contracted HIV, it's important to see a healthcare provider immediately for diagnosis and to start ART as soon as possible to manage the virus. It's also important that you disclose your sexual wellness history to any partner you have sex with so that they can protect themselves from HIV and other STIs as well.
While not curable, HIV can be managed through careful and consistent treatment via antiretroviral therapy—or ART. When diagnosed and treated early, ART can significantly reduce the viral load of HIV in the blood—to the point that it's undetectable, and thus no longer transmissible.
HIV/AIDS is still a big public-health problem, but today's testing, prevention, and treatment have made a difference for millions of lives.
HIV isn't spread by hugging, sharing food or casual contact. Unfortunately, the judgmental attitudes of people with HIV deserve to be challenged, if not outright rejected, and the support, accurate information, and healthcare for people living with HIV should not be judged.
Get tested. Stay informed. Protect yourself and others.
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