In Our Own Words: Teens and AIDS - Family Health Productions

Impact on ParticipantsYoung people may feel a variety of emotions as they watch the program.It may have a powerful affect on young people who:■ Haven’t disclosed that they are living with HIV.■ Feel frightened, because they participated in one of the activitiesidentified as risky.■ Know a relative or close friend with HIV.Before Viewing the ProgramPrepare participants for viewing the program by asking these questions:➘ Ask participants■ What is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)?HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, a disease that destroys the body’s abilityto fight off certain infections.■ What does it mean to be HIV positive?When someone is HIV positive, he or she has been exposed to HIV and isinfected with the virus.■ What is sexual abstinence?Sexual abstinence means to choose to not have vaginal, oral, or analintercourse.■ What is safer sex?Safer sex means keeping body fluids out of a partner’s body during vaginal oranal intercourse, oral sex, and other intimate contact. Latex condoms—usedcorrectly during sexual intercourse, every time, from start to finish—are highlyeffective in protecting against HIV and pregnancy. Experts also recommendusing a barrier during oral sex to prevent the spread of sexually transmittedinfections. Most health experts say HIV cannot be spread by kissing.■ How can people contract HIV?According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV may bepassed from one person to another when blood, semen, or vaginal secretionsinfected with HIV come into contact with an uninfected person’s broken skinor mucous membrane. A mucous membrane is wet, thin tissue found in certainopenings of the human body. These openings can include the mouth, eyes,nose, vagina, rectum, and penis. In addition, infected pregnant women canpass HIV to their babies during pregnancy or delivery, and through breastfeedingafter giving birth.In Our Own WordsDiscussion Guide3