FACTORS THAT AFFECT TRANSMISSION OF HIV INFECTION

• Sexually transmitted diseases increase the risk of HIV infection because they allow easy entry for the HIV.
• Anal Sex. Irrespective of whether it is hetero or homo sexual, it increases their risk of HIV. This is because the delicate skin inside the anus gets damaged more easily during sexual act.
• Sex during menstruation with a woman having HIV infection increases the risk of transmitting HIV to the male partner.
• Oral Sex has low risk of transmission of HIV. The risk is higher in case there are wounds, cuts or injuries in the mouth.
• Blood transfusion has a small risk of transmitting HIV. Although the government has made testing the blood for HIV before transmission compulsory, the test may be negative during window period (up to 3 – 6 months).
• Intravenous drug injections have a very high risk of transmission of HIV especially among drug abusers who share needles to inject addictive drugs. Intravenous injections with sterilized needles and syringes have no risk of transmitting HIV.
• Injections in the muscles or below the skin have very low risk of transmitting HIV.
• Pricking the skin for tattooing, piercing ears, nose etc. have low risk of transmitting HIV infection if sterilized needles are used.
• Pregnant women can transmit the HIV infection to their unborn child either during pregnancy or during childbirth.
• Breast-feeding has low risk of transmitting HIV infection to the baby. The risks of bottle-feeding are higher than the risks of HIV infection due to breast-feeding. This is why it is recommended that women with HIV infection continue to breast feed their baby.