Discrimination

Every year, December 1 is celebrated around the world as AIDS Day. And this is not just a date, but a way to bring closer the victory over discrimination against HIV-positive people, as well as a way to raise people’s awareness of the modes of transmission and methods of preventing the immunodeficiency virus.

There is an opinion in society that HIV-positive status indicates a person’s marginality or low social responsibility. Of course, this is fundamentally not true. HIV can affect anyone. Even a newly born child.

Statistics

• According to a government report “On the state of sanitary and epidemiologicalwell-being of the population in the Orenburg region in 2022″, the proportion of pregnancies in HIV-positive women resulting in childbirth has increased in the region: from 48% in 2006 to 80% in 2022.

• In order to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child, 293 HIV-positive pregnant women, or 98% of those who completed their pregnancy, received medication.
• High coverage of HIV testing among pregnant women and the provision of chemoprophylaxis have significantly reduced the number of infections among children. In 2022, 299 children were born to HIV-positive mothers, HIV diagnosis was confirmed in 6 children, or 2%.
• As of January 1, 2023, 632 children born to HIV-positive mothers were registered at the dispensary, of which 393 were confirmed to have HIV, 239 children were removed from dispensary observation with a negative HIV test result.

Life of a child with HIV. Marina’s story

Marina (name changed) was born in Orenburg in 2003. Her mother was HIV positive. She refused Marina. Then the girl was sent to an orphanage. It is difficult to imagine what an ordinary child experiences when he finds himself within the walls of such an institution. For Marina, the situation was complicated by her positive HIV status. She has had it since birth.

It’s difficult for Marina to accept her status, but the girl doesn’t give up. She takes antiretroviral therapy and attends self-help groups. She hopes that one day she will be able to talk calmly about her disease.

At the same time, Marina is not afraid to talk about her HIV status. She lives openly. Of course, due to traumatic experiences in childhood and adolescence, she expects a negative reaction from society, but there are much more positive moments in her adult life.

Despite all the difficulties, Marina plans to lead an ordinary healthy life. She wants a family. Antiretroviral therapy allows HIV-positive mothers to give birth to a completely healthy child. A pregnant woman is prescribed a course of medications. Timely start of taking medications can reduce the amount of virus in the blood of a pregnant woman to undetectable and almost completely prevent infection of the baby. By the way, a woman or man cannot become infected if their HIV-positive partner takes therapy.

How acute is the HIV problem in the Orenburg region?

Previously, we talked about the fact that the Orenburg region is in 5th place among the regions of the Russian Federation in terms of HIV incidence among the population, the number of registered cases has reached 41,029 people. What is HIV anyway? And how is it different from AIDS?

• HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus. The disease progresses very slowly. For many years, an HIV-positive person may not even be aware of the diagnosis, since it gives practically no clinical manifestations. However, at a certain point, HIV progresses to the AIDS stage.
• AIDS is already an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. With this syndrome, the body’s resistance becomes so low that a person can develop infectious diseases that other people practically do not get sick with or get sick extremely rarely. These diseases are called “opportunistic”. The immune system can no longer cope with even the simplest infections, including ARVI. A person dies not from AIDS, but from diseases that he cannot fight.

Can HIV be cured?

No, HIV cannot be completely cured yet. However, it can be brought under control and you can live a long life. To do this, it is enough to take antiretroviral therapy (ART). When taking ART, the viral load decreases and the virus cells become inactive. As a result, an HIV-positive person cannot transmit HIV.

Is it possible to start a family if you are HIV positive?

Yes. Taking ART reduces the viral load, as a result of which a person cannot infect his sexual partner. With proper medication use, this likelihood is reduced as much as possible. Moreover, a woman can give birth to a completely healthy child while being HIV positive.

Routes of HIV transmission:

• Unprotected sexual contact;
• Sharing injection equipment;
• A child can become infected while in the womb of an HIV-positive mother who is not taking therapy, as well as through breast milk.

You cannot become infected with HIV:

• By airborne droplets;
• Through a mosquito bite;
• Through the use of common utensils, toilets, etc.;
• With a kiss, a hug.

HIV is found in maximum concentrations in:

• Blood;
• Sperm;
• Vaginal secretion;
• Breast milk;
• Cerebrospinal fluid.

It turns out that the main types of HIV prevention are the use of condoms and sterile instruments (including syringes). Detailed statistics for the Orenburg region.

Remember that HIV is not a death sentence. When taking antiretroviral drugs correctly and regularly, HIV-positive people lead full lives. However, HIV can persist for a long time without clinical manifestations. The disease can only be detected through testing. Take care of yourself and your loved ones – get tested for HIV.

Earlier we told you that the organization ANO “New Life” launched a unique remote HIV self-testing service for the Orenburg region. Anyone can order an HIV test anonymously and free of charge, and then – remotely – receive help from a consultant who will tell you how to do the test and interpret its results. Read more.