Over one million people were living in the United States with HIV at the end of 2008, according to the Center for Disease Control. That was a seven percent increase from the U.S. rate in 2006. HIV can be contracted from vaginal, anal and oral sex. It can also be contracted from sharing needles — whether it be for drug use, piercing, tattoos or any other reasons.
The more sexual partners you have and the more times you have unprotected sex, the higher the risk you have for contracting HIV, regardless of your race or sexual orientation. Also, if you have gotten a tattoo or piercing and the technician did not use a clean needle, you could also be at risk. Testing is available, and although there is no cure, HIV can be monitored with medication.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. held "Red Dove: HIV/AIDS Awareness in the African American Community" on Feb. 7. "We decided to do a partnership with our brother fraternity because it's National AIDS Awareness Month [and because of] the idea [that] it is more so hitting the African American society and we are historically black," explained Zeta Phi Beta Secretary Samantha Lewis.
Individuals could participate in three different activities. In the first activity, participants were shown photos and tried to guess if the individuals were positive or negative for HIV. "It's just to show that AIDS does not have a face. Anybody is able to get it," said Lewis.
In the second activity, scenarios were read off and participants were able to participants were able to figure out how much of arisk they would have to contract HIV. In the third activity, participants created a character with their name, profession, interests, etc. Afterwards they were told their character had HIV and they had to list ten things that would change in the individual's life. "I think [this is] one of the more powerful ones we have," said Lewis. HIV testing was also avail-able at the workshop.
"One of the things I have learned is that many of the things a pregnant person can't do is something
an HIV person can't do. [For example], an HIV postive person cannot eat sushi," explained Lewis.
According to the Center for Disease Control,Blacks represent 14 percent of people living in the
U.S.; however, they account for 46 percent of the people living in the U.S. with HIV. Approximately
one in 16 black men and one in 32 black women will be diagnosed with HIV.
Director of the Student Health and Wellness Center Dr. Margo Potts stresses that individuals need to
use a barrier every time they have any sort of intercourse. Male condoms should be used for vaginal
and anal sex. Dental dams should be used for oral sex. If dental dams are not available, cellophane or
saran wrap can be used as a substitute.
The Virginia Department of Health Division of Disease Prevention has several recommendations
on how best to use barriers to protect yourself. In order to protect yourself against HIV, use a condom
each time you have sex. Check the expiration date on the condom and put the condom on before any
sort of sex. Use a water based lubricant for sex instead of an oil based lubricant. Oil based lubricant
such as petroleum jelly can cause the condom to rip.
Treasurer of Phi Beta Sigma Tristan Cunningham stressed that it is crucial for everyone to get test-
ed. "Getting tested is the most important thing in terms of fighting HIV or AIDS. You never know if
you don't get tested … any and everybody who is sexually active can contract the disease," said Cunningham.
Lewis echoed this idea, saying, "Get tested because it's not only that you are putting yourself at
risk, you are putting others at risk. It's about your own personal health. You have to take care of your-
self and be healthy. It's all important. If you know your status, you feel so much better."
Potts also urges individuals to get tested at least once a year. "Most people have no idea which is
one of the reasons testing is strongly suggested," she explained. She also warned that "there is a de-
lay in the time you might be infected and the time the test comes positive. It's at least three months."
Potts said HIV can be terminal but it can also be monitored depending on how well you take care of
yourself and your access to treatments. "There are two situations where things have changed. It is not
more likely that an HIV infected mother will not infect her child if medication is started and she is
monitored. The other thing is that it's more likely that a person can be HIV positive and not affect
their partners as long as they practice precautions,"explained Potts.
HIV is a very fragile virus outside the body, but be sure to use gloves and use a solution that will kill
any potential contaminants in the blood before you clean up a blood spill. Contact the state department
or visit http://www.longwood.edu/health/index.html for more information.
