MedlinePlus notes that in Americans between the ages of 25 and 44, AIDS is the sixth most common cause of death. A sexually transmitted disease, HIV weakens patients' immune systems. As the immune system weakens, patients become susceptible to opportunistic infections. AIDS and HIV prevention programs work by educating people on the dangers of the disease and how they can protect themselves.
Target Audience
As AVERT, an international AIDS charity, explains, AIDS and HIV prevention education is aimed at both people who have the disease and people who do not. With HIV-infected patients, the focus is on educating them and keeping them from transmitting the virus to other people. With people who do not have HIV, the focus involves teaching safe sex practices and how the virus spreads from person to person. HIV and AIDS prevention educators do target certain groups who have a higher risk of contracting HIV. These groups include men who have sex with men, sex workers, children, injecting drug users and women.
ABCs
The National Women's Health Information Center points out that people can remember prevention of HIV and AIDS through the acronym "ABCs." For example, the "A" is for abstinence, which involves not engaging in oral, vaginal or anal sex. If a person does have sex, then he should follow "B," or being faithful to one sexual partner, which reduces the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease. The "C" stands for condoms, with the male latex condom providing the most protection against HIV and AIDS.
Misconceptions
A misconception that affects HIV and AIDS prevention if how the virus spreads. For example, the MayoClinic.com points out that HIV cannot spread through shaking hands or kissing a person. The virus does not travel through the air or water and does not spread through insect bites. A person can contract HIV by having sex with an infected partner or sharing needles. A mother with HIV or AIDS can pass the virus onto her child during the pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. While a recipient of a blood transfusion can get HIV if the donor has HIV. The MayoClinic.com notes that this is rare due to modern blood-bank screening.
Considerations
The National Women's Health Information Center warns that women and men should not use the spermicide nonoxynol-9, which may cause vaginal irritation. When the vagina becomes irritated, it makes it easier for HIV to enter the body. Another protective measure is not douching, which may remove protective bacteria. AVERT adds that using antiretroviral treatment, the drug treatment for HIV and AIDS, may act as a preventive measure. For example, pregnant women with HIV can use antiretroviral treatment to prevent spreading the virus to their unborn children.
Benefits
HIV and AIDS prevention improves health and lowers the number of deaths from the disease. For example, while MedlinePlus notes that AIDS is the sixth most common cause of death among 25 to 44 year olds, it was the leading cause of death back in 1995. People without HIV and AIDS also do not develop life-threatening illnesses, or opportunistic infections, when exposed to common viruses or bacteria.
