HIV/Aids

I’m HIV positive – what now?
To receive an HIV-positive test result is never easy. You will probably experience feelings of fear, loss, grief, guilt, denial, anger, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression.

Living positively
When you are diagnosed as HIV-positive it needn't be the end of your life, it just means that you have to start living positively. Here are some ways to do just that.

Infection control
The following body fluids can be infectious when they are contaminated with HIV, and they should be handled with care by health care professionals and home-based caregivers (universal precautions should apply to these fluids).

Tests used for diagnosis of HIV infection
The diagnosis of HIV infection is based mainly on the laboratory testing of blood samples.

Should you disclose?
How do you disclose your HIV status to your loved ones? And how do you provide support if someone discloses to you?

Stick to your ARV treatment plan
Antiretroviral medicine can play a huge part in preventing positive people from transmitting the virus – but only if they keep their viral loads undetectable.

How to tell others (Disclosure issues)
Disclosure of a loved one’s seropositive status is difficult and often a shock, and no two people react in the same way to the news. Affected others’ responses can range from involvement, caring and support on the one hand, to abandonment, indifference, and antagonism on the other.

What about sex now?
To be HIV positive does not mean that this is the end of your sex life. Sex forms a very important part of one’s psychological health and well-being - as it is nurturing, relaxing and stress-relieving. It is, however, extremely important for the HIV positive person to always practice safer sex.

Family and community involvement
The magnitude of the HIV/Aids crisis in Africa necessitates the involvement of the family and the community in care programmes. We will only be able to cope with the demands of HIV/Aids if we establish well functioning community home-based care organisations.

HIV Peer Forum FAQs
Our HIV Peer forum is an online community where users support and share their experience of living positively with HIV.

My mom is HIV+
To disclose or not to disclose your HIV status – the debate continues. But very few people talk about whether, or how, you should disclose to your small children.

9 myths about HIV
Most myths about HIV and Aids arise from a lack of accurate information. Dr Avron Urison tackles some of the more common misconceptions.