6 What do you believe? - Short test on transmission

1. Decide how to teach this activity:

a) Hand out this activity to the students and have them answer the questions individually or with a partner.

b) Form small groups and give five questions to each group. The group with the most correct answers is the winner.

c) Have two teams with captains for each team. They could be boys against girls if the class is co-educational. The captains give the answer after consulting with their team. One team does the even numbers, and the other the odd. Keep score on the blackboard.

d) Read the questions to the students and they answer true or false. Sheets for every student are not needed in either method c) or d).

2. Give the students the correct answers. They are:

1) False HIV cannot survive in air and so it is not spread by shaking hands.

2) True In fact, the most common way for HIV to spread is through unprotected sexual intercourse with a partner who has HIV.

3) True The AIDS virus can pass from the mother’s blood to the baby’s blood while it is developing in the mother or when the baby is being delivered.

4) False Professionals who collect blood use new, clean needles to take blood from those who give blood. There is no danger in donating blood. Do not give blood if you have HIV or have participated in risk behaviours.

5) False Again, HIV does not live in air, nor is it transmitted through the skin (unless there are breaks in the skin).

6) False There have been no known cases of HIV being transmitted by kissing. While it is true that the virus has been found in saliva, there are no reported cases of family members becoming infected by kissing, hugging and sharing eating utensils while caring for persons with AIDS. It might be possible if both partners had open sores in the mouth and have been “deep kissing”.

7) True If the blood of someone who has HIV is transmitted to another person who does not have HIV, there is a high risk of that person getting HIV. This happens mostly when people re-use unclean (not sterilized) injection needles and syringes and sharp instruments for tattooing, ear and nose piercing, circumcision, etc.

8) True There are many cases of HIV being transmitted by drug users who share unsterilized injecting drug needles and syringes.

9) False Although more men than women were reported with AIDS at the beginning of this disease, women are now being infected with HIV at the same rate as men. Furthermore, women are biologically more vulnerable to HIV infection than men.

10) False The AIDS virus does not live in air and cannot be passed from skin to skin (unless there are breaks in the skin).

11) False HIV cannot be transmitted through swimming, bathing or drinking from water fountains.

12) False Anyone can get HIV/AIDS.

13) False A person can be infected with HIV, not be aware of it, and look perfectly healthy. During this time a person with HIV can pass it on to others.

14) False If cutting or piercing instruments are not sterilized before re-use, the blood left on these instruments, when shared by others, can transmit HIV.

15) False Re-used condoms may carry HIV, are more likely to break, and are more difficult to put on properly. Condoms should never be re-used.

16) True Obviously, the more sexual partners you have, the more chance of being exposed to someone with HIV.

17) True There have been no cases of transmission by these methods, even in people who care for people with AIDS.

18) False Since these instruments may have blood left on them, it is possible that they could transmit HIV to another person. Although the risk of infection is extremely low, it is advisable not to share toothbrushes.

19) False Although there are not many young people with AIDS, it should be remembered that HIV may be in the body for up to 10 years or more without signs or symptoms. Therefore, a person who is infected at age 15, might not get AIDS until the age of 25.

20) True Since HIV is contained in blood, menstrual blood of an HIV-infected woman will contain HIV, that can be transmitted through any open sores or mucous membranes of her partner. More seriously a woman who is menstruating is likely to be at a higher risk for HIV through sexual intercourse.

What should be done by parent(s)
(if there is a parents’ guide)

This activity may be included in the parents’ guide under “fun tests”. Parents can do the test alone or with their child reading the questions and helping with the answers.