Ways in which you can be infected with HIV

• Having unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person
  Sexual intercourse without a condom is risky, because the virus, which is present in an infected person's sexual fluids, can pass directly into the body of their partner. The same is true for unprotected anal sex. Oral sex carries a lower risk, but again HIV transmission can occur here if a condom is not used - for example, if one partner has bleeding gums or an open cut, however small, in their mouth.
• Contact with an infected person's blood
  If sufficient blood from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person, it can pass on the virus to them.
• Breastfeeding
  HIV can also be in the breast-milk of infected women, and can be passed on to their babies. There is a special drug which can greatly reduce the chances of this happening, but it is unavailable in much of the developing world.
• Use of infected blood-products
  Many people in the past have been infected with HIV by the use of blood transfusions and blood products which were contaminated with the virus - in hospitals, for example. In much of the world this is no longer a risk, as blood donations are routinely tested.
• Injecting drugs
  People who use illegal drugs are also vulnerable to HIV infection. In many parts of the world, often because it is illegal to possess them, injecting equipment or works are shared. A tiny amount of blood can transmit HIV, and can be injected directly into the bloodstream with the drugs.
• Piercing
  Tattooing, ear piercing, acupuncture and some kinds of dental work all involve instruments that must be sterile to avoid infection. In general, you should refrain from any procedure where the skin is pierced, unless absolutely necessary.

Ways in which you can NOT be infected with HIV

• sharing crockery and cutlery
• insect/animal bites
• touching
• hugging
• kissing
• shaking hands
• eating food prepared by someone with HIV.
• toilet seats
• towels and cups (unless the person, who used them, was severely bleeding)

Ways to protect yourself against infection

• First of all you should make it a point to learn as much as possible about HIV/AIDS. You must know how the disease spreads and, more importantly how it does not spread
• You must learn about proper use of condoms and ALWAYS use them, when having sex with a new and/or unchecked partner.
• When using syringes, make sure that they are steril and that nobody used them before you. Also make sure to discard them right after use.
• When you go to a piercing or hair salon, make sure that all the instruments that are going to be used are either disposable or were previously sterilized in alcohol. It is especially important in case of needles for piercing.
• Try to find people with whom you could discuss this topic, whether they are your parents, friends, teachers or doctors. If such an option is not avaliable or you still feel uncomfortable about discussing HIV/AIDS openly, try to use anonymous online consultations.
• If you have had an unprotected contact with a person, about whom you are not sure, or if you are simply worried, don't hesitate to take an anonymous HIV-test. It never hurts to make sure that you are ok.

What is the difference between ‘Safe Sex’ and ‘Safer Sex’?

Safe sex refers to sexual activities which do not involve any blood or sexual fluid from one person getting into another person's body. If two people are having safe sex then, even if one person is infected, there is no possibility of the other person becoming infected. Examples of safe sex are cuddling, mutual masturbation, 'dry' (or 'clothed') sex, etc.

In many parts of the world, particularly the USA, people are taught that the best form of safe sex is no sex - also called 'sexual abstinence'. Abstinence isn't a form of sex at all - it involves avoiding all sexual activity. Usually, young people are taught that they should abstain sexually until they marry, and then remain faithful to their partner. This is a good way for someone to avoid HIV infection, as long as their husband or wife is also completely faithful and doesn't infect them.

Safer sex is used to refer to a range of sexual activities that hold little risk of HIV infection.

Safer sex is often taken to mean using a condom for sexual intercourse. Using a condom makes it very hard for the virus to pass between people when they are having sexual intercourse. A condom, when used properly , acts as a physical barrier that prevents infected fluid getting into the other person's bloodstream.

High risk groups

• People, who have unprotected sex
• People, who have many sexual partners
• Sexual partners of infected people
• People, who take drugs intravenously
• Homosexuals
• People, who have sexual contact with prostitutes
• People, who get tatoos done with non-disposable/ unsterilized needles
• People, who get piercing done with non-disposable/ unsterilized needles
• People, infected with STDs
• Hepatitis and tuberculosis (TB) patients
• People, who travel a lot and who can "bring" the disease with them to another country