What is AIDS?: Difference between revisions

Content currently unavailable.

Bibliographic Information: Birgitta, R. What is AIDS? A manual for health workers

Pages 15 to 20

AIDS and pregnancy

AIDS can spread from the mother to the unborn child during pregnancy or delivery.

A pregnancy might cause the onset of AIDS.

A woman who know or suspects that she is an HIV-carrier should avoid becoming pregnant.

Some hospitals can make a test to find out if a person is infected. A woman who is unsure and wants a baby should try to have a test first. If she lives in an area with many persons with AIDS.

Does AIDS spread through breast-feeding?

The virus has been found in breast-milk in low concentrations. It is not yet known if the small amount of virus in milk can infect the baby.

Many women do not know if they are infected or not.

Since the risks of bottle-feeding are well-known, while the risks of breast-feeding by an infected mother remain unproven breast-feeding should always be encouraged.

AIDS and Immunizations

To immunize, syringes and needles are used. These can be a source of infection.

Everychild should be immunized with a sterile needle and syringe. Make sure that they are boiled for 20 mins.

Where disposable needles are used, they should be put into a closed container and buried later.

Blood should never be aspirated into the need and syringe.

The risk of spreading AIDS through immunization programs is nil as needles and syringes are adequately sterilized.

What the HIV-carrier should know

Persons who suspect or know that they are HIV-carriers should:

Avoid being reinfected by the AIDS virus Avoid spreading the infection by: -not having sexual intercourse or -using a condom -washing their soiled linen or clothes themselves -not giving blood for transfusion

Treat other infections as -tuberculosis -venereal diseases, etc.

How to care for a person with AIDS

Remember that these people are in need of social contact and support, just as we are. Their skin or breathing does not transmit the infection and they need physical and psychological closeness, as all of us do.

They may know they have a deadly disease, especially once they know the diagnosis. This can cause fear, anxiety and anger. Health personnel and relatives need to be prepared for this. People with AIDS need time an help to struggle with these feelings. They need somebody who is prepared to listen and support them. They need to be encouraged to continue to live and take part in daily activities, as mush as they can.

Perhaps they want to talk to a pastor or counselor, or someone else, who can give them spiritual and emotional reassurance. The health worker should encourage this and arrange it.