Inadequate knowledge, negative attitudes and risky practices are considered to be the major hindrances to preventing the spread of HIV. So, the greatest weapon against HIV is still knowledge, knowledge, knowledge!
The HIV/Aids pandemic is one of the most important public health problems in the last few decades and it is having a profound impact on the lives of infected people and their families. This is your chance to test your knowledge about HIV. Complete this quiz adapted from www.medicinenet.com and www.saaf.org to find out how much you do know.
Questions
1. What is HIV?
a. A virus that causes Aids
b. A bacteria that causes Aids
2. What is Aids?
a. A fungal infection
b. A rare blood cancer caused by HIV
c. A group of diseases caused by HIV
d. The final stage of HIV
3. What are T cells?
a. T cells are a type of white blood cell
b. T cells scan other cells for abnormalities
c. T cells coordinate immune responses
d. All of the above
4. Which is not considered a common method of transmission for HIV?
a. Blood
b. Genital secretions
c. Breast milk
d. Urine
5. What does it mean to be “HIV-positive?”
a. It means that you have Aids
b. It means that the HIV virus has been found in your blood by two tests.
c. It means that the virus cannot be passed to another person
d. None of the above
6. Is HIV manageable?
a. No
b. Yes
7. The following people should be tested for HIV:
a. Drug users, teens, and those over 50 years of age
b. Gay men and women
c. Pregnant women
d. Heterosexual men and women
e. All the above
8. The best way to prevent HIV infection is:
a. Not to have sexual contact with anyone
b. To stay away from those with HIV
c. To use latex condoms and not to share needles
d. I don’t have to worry because I’m not at risk
9. You can tell if someone has HIV by looking at them
a. Yes
b. No
10. Why is a combination of drugs − called a cocktail − used to treat HIV?
a. The virus mutates rapidly
b. Each individual responds to each medication differently
c. Combining medications triples their strength
d. A and B
Answers
1.
a. HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, can lead to Aids (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Once HIV infection occurs, it persists for life.
2.
d. Aids refers to acquired immune deficiency syndrome, which is the last or final stage of HIV infection. Not everyone with HIV infection will develop Aids. People with Aids require lifelong medical treatment. If untreated, people with Aids usually survive about three years.
3.
d. T cells are a type of lymphocyte (one of the white blood cells involved in the body’s immune response) that circulates in the blood and plays a critical role in the immune response.
4.
d. HIV is spread among humans by certain fluids, including blood, semen, breast milk, vaginal secretions, rectal fluids and pre-seminal fluid. The infected fluid must come in contact with a skin break or mucous membrane of the healthy person in order for infection to occur. Contamination of the bloodstream (eg by a needle or syringe from an infected person) can also spread the virus. HIV is not spread by urine or contact with the urine of an infected person.
5.
b. It means that the HIV virus has been found in your blood by two tests. It does not mean the person has Aids. People who are HIV-positive are able to transmit the virus to others, even if they do not yet have any symptoms from the infection.
6.
b. Medications that have been developed since the identification of HIV have allowed the condition to be managed. People with HIV infection can live a healthy life. It is important to follow the treatment plan as prescribed by your doctor to slow the progression of the infection and to prevent Aids-related conditions.
7.
d. Everyone should know their HIV status. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that HIV testing and HIV screening be part of routine clinical care in all health care settings.
8.
a. Not to have sexual contact with anyone. The primary reason that condoms fail to prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy is incorrect or inconsistent use, not failure of the condom itself. Consistent use means correctly using a new condom with each act of anal, vaginal or oral sex.
9.
b. No. Many people have HIV without knowing it themselves. The only sure way to find out is to have an HIV test. In addition, many people on HIV treatment are in good health.
10.
d. A and B. The drugs are designed to attack the virus at different stages of its life cycle. When taken correctly, the cocktail overwhelms any chance of developing resistance to the drugs.
Sources
www.medicinenet.com
www.saaf.org
(Revised by M van Deventer)