- A sexually transmitted infection is an infection that is transmitted through sexual contact.
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a pathogen that causes an STI.
- HIV enters human cells and uses each cell to make more viruses, which then enters even more cells. HIV mainly affects a type of white blood cell.
- HIV is transmitted from the blood and semen. The virus can pass from one person to another during unprotected sexual intercourse.
- HIV can also be transmitted via hypodermic needles contaminated with infected blood.
- HIV can be spread very quickly among drug addicts who share needles.
- Babies are also at risk of HIV.
- The virus can pass from the mother’s blood to the baby’s blood at birth when the two bloodstreams come into close contact.
- HIV can also be transmitted in breast milk.
- HIV can be transmitted through blood used for transfusions.
- If left untreated, HIV may lead into the development of AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
- Methods to reduce the spread of STIs:
- using condoms to provide a physical barrier to the transmission of STIs during sexual intercourse
- setting up free needle exchange schemes for those who inject drugs; this reduces the risk of transmission from the user of shared needles and syringes
- screening donated blood for HIV antibodies and eliminating contaminated blood being used for transfusion
- education programmes to spread awareness of the methods of the spread of STIs and how it can be prevented.