Prevention Project
Lectures in schools and companies focusing on prevention and reducing the number of new AIDS cases, as well as diminishing prejudice. In 2009 we had ten of those lectures. They are FREE.
1. Within the scope of the prevention project, during 2009 Sociedade Viva Cazuza was present in over 100 insertions in broadcast TV news and entertainment programs, radios and daily newspapers, including a soap-opera on Globo TV.
2. During the year we were visited by many federal institutions and authorities, such as Doctor Michel Sidibé, Director of UNAIDS, who had an interest in the work developed by the Pediatric Help House, which is considered a reference for Pediatric AIDS care.
Do you know what AIDS is?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is a disease that manifests itself after the infection of the human organism by the HIV virus (Human Immunodeficiency Vírus).
Syndrome: Group of signs and symptoms that once considered together, characterize a disease.
Immunodeficiency: Inability of the defense system of the human organism to protect itself against the invasion by microorganisms such as: viruses, bacteria, protozoa, etc.
Acquired: Not congenital like other immunodeficiencies. AIDS is not caused spontaneously, but by an external factor (the infection by HIV).
This virus has a long incubation period before the symptoms appear, blood and nervous system cells are infected and suppression of the immune system occurs.
AIDS is a complex disease, a syndrome that is not characterized by a single symptom. In reality, HIV destroys the lymphocytes - cells that are responsible for defending the human body – making the person vulnerable to other infections and opportunistic diseases, those that appear during times when an individual’s immune system is weak.
A few years ago, receiving a diagnosis of AIDS was practically a death sentence. Today, however, AIDS can be considered a chronic disease. This means that it is a disease without a cure, but that can be treated and a person infected by HIV may live with the vírus for a long period without showing any sign or symptom.
This has become possible due to technological advances and research that allow the development of increasingly efficient medicines. It is also due to the experience gained through the years by health care professionals. All of these factors make it possible for a person infected with HIV to have a progressively longer and better life.
Symptoms
AIDS doesn’t manifest itself the same way in every person. However, the initial symptoms are usually similar and besides that, common to many other diseases. They are: persistent fever, shivering, headaches, sore throat, muscle pain, skin stains, lumps or enlarged lymph nodes under the arm, on the neck or the groin, which may take a long time to disappear.
With the progression of the disease and the debilitation of the individual’s immune system, opportunistic diseases begin to appear, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, some kinds of cancer, candidiasis and infections of the nervous system (toxoplasmosis and meningitis, for example).
Forms of Infection
This way you get infected:
• Vaginal sex without condoms
• Anal sex without condoms
• Use of the same syringe or needle by more than one person
• Transfusion with contaminated blood
• An infected mother may pass HIV on to her child during pregnancy, delivery or nursing
• Non-sterile instruments that cut or pierce
This way you don’t get infected:
• Sex, if you use condoms correctly
• Mutual masturbation
• Kiss on the face or on the mouth
• Sweat and tears
• Insect bite
• Hand shake or hug
• Knives, forks, spoons or glasses
• Bus seat
• Swimming pools, bathrooms or through the air
• Blood donation
• Soap, towel or sheets
Prevention
Use of condoms
Several studies confirm the effectiveness of condoms for the prevention of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A recent study conducted at the University of Wisconsin (USA), demonstrated that the correct and consistent use of condoms in all sexual relations shows an effectiveness estimated at 90-95% in prevention of HIV transmission. The authors of the study suggest a linear relation between the frequency of condom use and the reduction in transmission risk, that is, more frequent use of condoms lowers the risk of contracting HIV.
Are condoms really impermeable?
Impermeability is one of the factors that worry people the most. In a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health in the United States, the latex used in condoms was stretched to over 2000 times its original size under an electronic microscope) and no pores were found. Another study examined the world’s 40 most popular brands of condoms, magnifying them 30 thousand times (a level that makes it possible for HIV to be seen) and not a single sample presented pores.
An older study, from 1992, that used microspheres similar to HIV in concentrations 100 times higher than that found in semen, showed results that, even in cases where the condoms’ resistance was lower, leakage was inferior to 0,01% of total volume. The study concluded that even in the worst cases, condoms offer 10 thousand times more protection against HIV than not using them.
And why do condoms sometimes break?
As for the possibility of a condom breaking during sexual activity, research shows that breakage is due more to incorrect use than to any structural faults inherent to the product. In the United Sates a study carried out in 1989 indicated that the condom breakage rate was inferior to 1%. However, in 1994 an important multicentric study was conducted in 8 countries (Dominican Republic, Mexico, USA, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal and Sri Lanka) to test condoms. The breakage rate found varied from 0,6% (in Sri Lanka) to 13,3% (in Ghana).
The most convincing data about condom effectiveness against HIV infection was demonstrated by a study conducted between couples, where one of the partners was infected by HIV and the other was not. The study showed that with consistent use of condoms, the infection rate of the previously uninfected partners was lower than 1% a year.
In light of these studies, conducted by renowned and credible institutions, it is safe to say that the correct and frequent use of condoms effectively contributes to the prevention of diseases, as well as to avoid unplanned pregnancies.
Tests for diagnosing HIV infection
Diagnosis of HIV infection is done through tests based on blood samples.
These tests can be performed in public heath labs, in primary health care units, Testing and Counseling Centers (CTA) and in private laboratories. In the CTAs, the anti-HIV test can be done anonymously and free of charge.
In these Centers, in addition to blood sample collection and execution of the tests, there is a counseling process before and after the tests which is done carefully in order to facilitate the correct interpretation of the result by the patient.
All tests must be carried out according to the norm defined by the Ministry of Health and using products registered and controlled by the National Agency for Health Surveillance (ANVISA).
STD/AIDS Department – Ministry of Health
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