10 Protect yourself against AIDS - Information sheet on protection

Purpose

It is essential that young people know how to protect themselves from HIV/STD. This activity provides information on, and encourages discussion of safer choices of behaviour in relation to sexual intercourse; unsterilized needles; cutting of the skin.

What the teacher does

1. Read the introduction to the activity.

2. Explain what the students have to do in the activity, i.e. decide on safer choices for 1, 2 and 3.

3. Provide the answers for the students:

a) Sexual intercourse

- delay sexual intercourse;
- be faithful to a partner who is free of HIV and is faithful to you;
- love carefully - use a condom correctly.

b) Unsterilized/shared needles and syringes (or other injecting equipment)

- always go to a doctor, clinic or hospital for injections; they use sterilized needles;

- use new or clean (sterilized, boiled) needles if you must use an injection needle and syringe;

- clean the needle and syringe with bleach if new ones cannot be obtained. Needles and syringes made of glass can also be boiled (see section 7 of this manual).

- stop using injection drugs.

c) Avoid unsafe blood contact

- refuse traditional cutting of the skin unless you can bring your own clean razor;
- make sure sterilized tools are always used for tattooing, ear piercing, circumcision;
- it is advisable not to share toothbrushes; there is a very slight risk of blood-to-blood contact.

Additional preparation Teachers should know about using condoms and how to clean a dirty injection needle (included in this guide). You may need to discuss condom use in terms of future use, particularly if your community is opposed to discussing or advising condom use with young people.