AIDS Prevention Techniques

HIV prevention techniques are designed to halt transmission of HIV/AIDS from person to person. There are 57,000 new HIV/AIDS infections per year in the United States with numbers disproportionately affecting African Americans and Hispanics. HIV/AIDS is a disease that is preventable; however, the number of new HIV cases doesn't reflect this fact.

Condoms

• The most common mode of transmission of the HIV virus is the transfer of body secretions through sexual contact. A very effective way to prevent HIV transmission and subsequent possible AIDS infection is through condom use during sexual activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that consistent and correct use of latex condoms is a strong preventive strategy against HIV transmission; however, this method is not 100 percent effective.

Needle Programs

• The sharing of contaminated needles is a common way HIV is transmitted from one person to another. Clean needle programs involve handing out new, clean needles to intravenous drug users in an attempt to stave off dirty needle use. These programs are effective in helping to prevent HIV although public health staff members have to continuously reach out to people at risk of reusing old needles.

Community Testing

• It is estimated that one out of five HIV-infected individuals is unaware of his infection. The U.S. government has been proactive in trying to curb HIV/AIDS transmission by managing a program to make more people aware of their HIV/AIDS status through Rapid HIV testing. Rapid HIV testing is a quick and easy HIV testing method that can be administered in public settings such as hospital emergency rooms and even Division of Motor vehicle locations. Results are provided in a confidential setting, and counseling is offered. The community approach to testing improves access to people who might not get testing through the traditional route of visiting a doctor's office.

Treatment as Prevention

• Antiretroviral drugs have been effective in helping to prevent HIV transmission from pregnant HIV-positive mothers to their unborn children. These same drugs have been used to stop HIV transmission for other types of situations including work-related exposure such as needle sticks and other unintentional contact with infected blood. The effectiveness of this treatment method is still under investigation with the hope that this will become a proven preventative method in the future.

Cultural Strategies

• There are approximately 40 million people infected with HIV globally. This number shows that traditional means of HIV and AIDS prevention have not always worked for everyone. Culturally sensitive approaches have been developed to effectively reach individuals who may not respond to some of the more traditional HIV prevention methods. Examples of these methods include a theater program developed to educate community members in Africa about HIV/AIDS. Traditional healers are trusted and respected in many African communities and have been tapped into to spread the prevention message. Cultural-specific strategies have been effective in educating a larger number of people about HIV/AIDS transmission.