 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Key Public Health Messages For All Populations Related To HIV Prevention
•
Regardless of intention to use condoms
or other safer sex practices, everyone should discuss
their HIV and STD
status with potential sex partners PRIOR to engaging in anal, vaginal,
or oral
sex. This discussion should go beyond a simple statement of disclosure.
Possible statements/questions include, but are not limited to: “I’m
HIV- (or
HIV+), what is your HIV status?” “When was the last
time you tested
negative?” “What risk have you had since then?” “Have
you recently been tested for STDs?” “I’m HIV positive,
and for me safe sex means always using condoms for anal sex.”
• Condoms should be used for all anal and vaginal
intercourse, unless partners are in mutually monogamous, sero-concordant
relationships or have explicit negotiated safety agreements (a relationship
where both partners are certain of their concordant HIV status and agree
to always use condoms outside of their relationship).
• People with multiple partners, especially
those with anonymous partners, should be encouraged to reduce their
number of sex partners.
• Members of all risk groups should avoid or
reduce alcohol
and other drug-mediated
sexual activity.
• People who have been diagnosed with HIV,
STD, or hepatitis
should assist with efforts to ensure that exposed sex or needle-sharing
partners know that they have been exposed so the partners can be screened
and treated.
• Persons
with HIV should seek and maintain regular, consistent medical care
for their infection. This does not mean that all people with HIV need
to be taking highly active anti-retroviral medications, but all people
with HIV should develop an on-going relationship with a medical care
provider.
Population-Specific
Messages:
• Sexually active gay/bi men, drug injectors,
and transgendered individuals should be tested for HIV and STD in accordance
with local clinical
guidelines
• Gay/bi men, drug injectors, and transgendered individuals should
be vaccinated against Hepatitis
type A and type B.
• Injecting drug users should use new, sterile syringes and new,
clean injection equipment every time they inject or divide drugs.
• Injecting drug users should be tested for HIV and Hepatitis
every 12 months.
• Injecting drug users should seek appropriate drug treatment.
• Heterosexuals should be tested for HIV prior to beginning new
sexual relationships, and prior to becoming pregnant.