HIV Risk Reduction/Prevention
• What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV attacks the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight off infection.
• What is AIDS?
AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Acquired means that AIDS is the result of an infection—more specifically, becoming infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Immune Deficiency means a weakness in the body’s ability to fight diseases and infections. Syndrome refers to a group of health complications that are associated with a disease.
• Is there a cure for HIV/AIDS?
No. There is not a cure for HIV/AIDS. Currently, we cannot entirely remove HIV from the body. However, HIV/AIDS is highly treatable. With the right medical care, people who are living with HIV can live long, health lives.
• Are there treatments available for people infected with HIV/AIDS?
Yes! HIV/AIDS is highly treatable! HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) is available for all people infected with HIV/AIDS.
• How long is the lifespan of an individual infected with HIV/AIDS?
With proper medical care, diet, exercise and adherence to HAART, a person infected with HIV/AIDS can expect to live a full lifetime.
• How is HIV transmitted?
HIV can be transmitted from parent to child during pregnancy, by sharing injection drug equipment, having unprotected anal or vaginal sex, or through contaminated blood transfusions and organ transplants.
HIV only spreads through contact with infected semen, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, blood, or breast milk. Since HIV cannot live on surfaces, contact must be within the body or mucus membranes for transmission to occur.
HIV cannot be transmitted by kissing, touching, hugging, sharing food or eating utensils, or via insect bites or toilet seats. These are just a few of many common misconceptions about how HIV is transmitted.
HIV rarely spreads through oral sex, unless there are sores or broken skin in the mouth and/or on the genitals/anus.
• Who is at risk for contracting HIV?
Anyone can be infected with HIV. However, certain behaviors do increase the likelihood of contracting HIV. These behaviors include unprotected anal or vaginal sex and injection drug use.
People from certain communities are also at a higher risk for contracting HIV. Certain communities have disproportionately high rates of new HIV infections, which makes it more likely that someone within that community will become infected.
In Ohio, gay and bisexual men—particularly young, Black, gay and bisexual men—contract HIV at disproportionally high rates. Transgender people—more specifically, Black transgender women and transgender women of color—as well as people who inject drugs also experience high rates of HIV infection.
It’ also more likely that partners of people living with HIV, partners of people who inject drugs, and partners of gay or bisexual men will be infected with HIV. People who have been diagnosed with syphilis within the last year, and people who have moved from the south and haven’t been tested recently, also live with a high risk of HIV infection.
If you think you may be living with a high risk of infection, it’s important that you get tested. Once you know your HIV status, CANAPI and our community partner organizations can help you find the right care to treat it.
• How can I reduce my risk for HIV Infection?
Anyone can reduce their risk of contracting HIV by using a condom while engaging in anal or vaginal. If you are an injection drug user, you can reduce your risk of infection significantly by not sharing needles. Clean needles with bleach and water after each use.
Needle exchange programs also help decrease the risk of HIV contraction among injection drug users. There are two needle exchange locations in Summit County.
If you think exchanging needles may help you decrease your risk of contracting HIV, you can find more information about exchange programs under the Addiction section on our Resources page.
• What are the symptoms of HIV?
Some people experience early symptoms, but others do not. Symptoms can be flu-like, including fever, rash, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes and glands.
The only way to know for certain if you’ve been infected with HIV is to get tested.
• Where can I get screened for HIV/AIDS?
Here at CANAPI, we offer free, confidential HIV screenings by appointment Monday - Friday/9am-5pm.
For more information, feel free to send us an email or call our Highland Square office directly. If you think you may need tested, but aren’t sure, give us a call. Our staff can walk you through the entire testing process, free of charge. info@canapi.org | 330.252.1559
• How often should I be screened for HIV and other STDs?
If you engage in risky sexual or drug use behaviors, we at CANAPI recommend getting screened every 3-6 months.
If you are in a monogamous relationship with someone who is HIV negative, you may not need to get screened unless your circumstances change.
If you’re not sure if you should get tested, please call CANAPI’s office directly. We’ll walk you through your risk factors and help determine the best course of action, free of charge.
• How accurate are the tests?
At CANAPI, we use Oraquick Rapid Antibody HIV 1/2 and Alere Determine Ag/Ab Rapid testing devices.
Put simply, these testing devices are 99.8% accurate. These testing devices are 100% sensitive, which means that if your test results are negative, then you are free of HIV at the time of testing
• What happens if I test positive?
A positive or reactive test result indicates that antibodies to HIV are present in your body.
You’ll need a follow-up test is to verify a positive result. If your follow-up test confirms a positive result, CANAPI can help you with all your care moving forward.
A positive result can be scary. At CANAPI, we know how overwhelming it can be to face your status alone. So we’ll be here every step of the way. We’ll help you find the right doctors, get access to the right medicines, and even connect you with outside support resources, legal guidance, and medical care to help you manage and understand your HIV positive status.
With CANAPI, you won’t have to navigate living with HIV alone. We promise.
• What happens if I test negative?
A negative or non-reactive result indicates that antibodies to HIV are not present in your body at the time the test was administered. However, antibodies to HIV can take up to three months to develop.
If you think you have been exposed, it is best to wait three months to be tested. Testing prior to three months may result in a false negative.
• What does it mean to be undetectable?
"U = U" stands for Undetectable = Un-transmittable.
HIV treatment medications have significantly improved since they first become available. Today, HIV medications can significantly reduce a person’s amount of the HIV virus—commonly referred to as a viral load.
A person’s viral load can become so low that it is undetectable. Once HIV is undetectable, it is also un-transmittable.
Someone with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to another person. To remain undetectable, people living with HIV must adhere to their treatment plan.