Final Facilitator Guide - EngenderHealth

Section 4consent) will only discourage those at risk of contracting HIV from gettingtested, thus resulting in the further spread of the virus. The best way toget the maximum number of people tested for HIV is to increaseawareness, offer pre and post-test counseling, ensure confidentiality,and respect the rights of people. The fight against HIV requiresimplementing and applying accepted public health standards andguidelines with a respect for human rights.A woman who is HIV-positive should not get pregnant and have a child.Facilitator’s Guide3Adherence to Treatment for HIVLiving with HIV does not change the basic right of a woman to givebirth to a child. The desire to create a new life and ensure the continuityof oneself is inherent in every woman, especially among Indiancommunities where there are strong pressures to have children. AsPeer Educators our duty is to ensure that we provide the correctinformation about the risks and benefits of childbearing and, whennecessary, refer women to an HIV specialist for further counseling.Not all babies born to HIV-positive women will have HIV; only about25% of babies are at risk of getting HIV from the mother. With theavailability of nevirapine and other ART medicines, it is now possibleto reduce this chance even further. If she is provided with all the relevantinformation about the risks involved in the transmission of HIV to theunborn, including during breastfeeding, a woman can make an informeddecision about having a child.If a man is HIV-positive, he must tell a sexual partner of his status,even if he is using a condom.HIV prevention efforts are placing new emphasis on informing one’ssexual partners. The primary purpose of this is to ensure the preventionof HIV, and the second objective is to inform the partner that he/shemight be exposed to the virus and should get tested. Condoms, if usedproperly, are very effective in preventing HIV transmission. Therefore,it is the duty of HIV+ people to inform their sex partners about their78