Final Facilitator Guide - EngenderHealth

Section 2Where does HIV come from?Nobody knows where HIV came from, exactly how it works, or howto cure it. When HIV first appeared in each country, people blamedHIV on certain communities. Often, people think the fault lies withpeople from “other places” or those who look and behave “differently.”This leads to problems of blame and prejudice. It also means thatmany people believe that only people in those groups are at risk forHIV infection and that “it can’t happen to me.” Confusion aboutwhere HIV comes from and whom it affects also makes many peoplewilling to deny that it even exists.How many people are infected with HIV in the world and in India?UNAIDS estimates that in 2005 there were 4.03 crores* people livingin the world with HIV. NACO estimates that in India there are 53lakhs* people living with HIV.Facilitator’s Guide1Adherence to Treatment for HIVHow is HIV transmitted?Getting infected with HIV does not happen as easily as gettingmeasles or influenza. For example, viruses like measles and influenzaare transmitted by air, when having social contacts with infectedpeople. HIV needs “transport” to get into the body of a person. This”transport” can be blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk. As aconsequence, the virus can be transmitted through the following:• Unprotected sexual intercourse• Transfusion with blood or blood products• Using shared unsterile needles, syringes and cutting objects• From a mother who is HIV-positive to her baby during pregnancy,delivery or breast feeding* 4.03 crores = 40.3 million* 53 lakhs = 5.3 million25