Group Education Manual - Peace Corps Wiki

Handout 6A: Levels of Risk for HIV InfectionLevelNo Risk =No contact with infected body fluids. HIV istransmitted in body fluids. If there is no contact withsuch fluids, there is no risk for HIV being passed froman infected person to an uninfected person.Lower Risk =The possibility of contact with HIV because of thefailure of protection. Using a condom still carriessome risk because no protective method is 100%effective.Medium Risk =Medium possibility of HIV transmission. This can bedue to a lack of protection in situations where there issome chance of HIV-infected fluids entering anotherperson’s body (oral sex without a condom). Or it canbe because protection is used, but there is a very strongchance that HIV-infected fluids will enter anotherperson’s body (anal sex with condom).Higher Risk =High probability of HIV transmission. This is becauseno protection is used and there is a very strong chancethat HIV-infected fluids will enter another person’sbody.Behavior• Abstinence• Masturbation• Hugging a person who has AIDS• Kissing• Fantasizing• Massage• Vaginal sex with a condom• Anal sex with a condom (the chancesof breakage are higher than for vaginalsex, so could be placed in next category.)• Performing oral sex on a man with acondom• Performing oral sex on a womanwith protection• Performing oral sex on a manwithout a condom• Performing oral sex on a womanwithout protection• Infant breastfeeding from an HIVinfectedmother• Vaginal sex without a condom• Anal sex without a condom• Dry sex n without a condomMany factors affect these levels of risk. The level of risk for many of these behaviors will vary, based ona range of factors. These include:• How much HIV the infected person has in his or her body• Whether or not the person is the “giver” or “receiver” of the sexual behavior• How weak are the immune systems of the people involved• The presence of cuts or openings on the skin where contact with HIV is likely (for example, as aresult of STIs)• The presence of sores or bloody gums during oral sex• How well condoms and other protections are used6.3 Taking Risks/Facing Risks51