Held every year on December 1, World AIDS Day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to combat the stigma around HIV. For professionals working with young people, this means being equipped with accurate information and effective communication strategies to talk about HIV and all things sexual health in a sex-positive and engaging way.
Here are eight strategies to effectively navigate discussions about HIV, dispel myths, reduce stigma, and foster conversations with young people.
When chatting with young people about sexual health, create a safe and confidential space for them to ask questions. Creating safe spaces is important to combat stigma and normalise conversations around sexual health. When it comes to HIV, there is a lot of stigma and many myths surrounding the virus. By creating a safe space for questions and discussions about HIV and sexual health, this will enable young people to ask questions, dispel myths and find the information they need.
HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) targets the immune system, the body’s defence against infections. Over time, if untreated, HIV can severely impair the immune system, leading to the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
There are a lot of rumours that go around about HIV, so let’s set some of those straight: You can’t tell if someone has HIV just by looking at them, you can’t get HIV by kissing or cuddling, mosquitoes don’t pass on HIV and you can’t get it by shaking hands, sharing cutlery or cups, or by eating food made by someone with HIV.
Most people with HIV do not have symptoms. That’s why it’s important to always recommend regular testing to the young people you’re working with (more on that below).
Sometimes, symptoms of HIV can include:
HIV is only passed on through the semen, blood, vaginal fluid, anal fluid or breast milk of a person with HIV who has a detectable viral load. This means vaginal sex, anal sex, or sharing needles can pass HIV. HIV may also be passed from pregnant person to baby while in the womb, during childbirth or breastfeeding.
HIV is treated with medication that you take every day. This protects your immune system, prevents AIDS, and keeps people living with HIV healthy. Treatment is not a cure for HIV, but it can keep you healthy and help prevent passing it on to others. The sooner you start taking it, the better – it is for your lifetime wellness. People with HIV can now live long and healthy lives, and it’s important to highlight this to any young person who might be concerned.
In Australia, the groups most vulnerable to HIV infection include:
According to Ending HIV, there are an estimated 29,460 people in Australia living with HIV. Around 95% of people diagnosed were receiving HIV treatment, and – of those receiving treatment – 98% had an undetectable viral load (more on what that means below).
Since HIV was first recognised 40 years ago, there have been major medical advancements which have helped reduce and prevent the transmission of HIV. Advancements in HIV treatment means that most people can achieve an undetectable viral load (UVL) and live live long healthy lives.
Despite this progression, there are still a LOT of myths surrounding HIV. Here are three of the most common myths to dispel when talking to young people:
Treatment has evolved immensely since the introduction of combination therapy in the 1990s. Thanks to these advancements, individuals diagnosed with HIV today can live long, active lives.
Let’s set the record straight – as the Play Safe website says: You can’t tell if someone has HIV just by looking at them, you can’t get HIV by kissing or cuddling, mosquitoes don’t pass on HIV and you can’t get it by shaking hands, sharing cutlery or cups, or by eating food made by someone with HIV. HIV is only passed on through the semen, blood, vaginal fluid, anal fluid or breast milk of a person with HIV who has a detectable viral load.
Another benefit of modern treatment is that it means that it’s not only possible to still have a sex life, but there’s also no risk of transmitting HIV to a partner if the positive person has an undetectable viral load.
When chatting with young people, focusing on safe sex and HIV prevention strategies in the context of all sexually transmissible infections (STIs) is important.
The Play Safe Pro website is packed with interactive tools and games that make having sexual health discussions with young people easier. Games such as the Condom Game are a great way to start conversations about safer sex, HIV and STI prevention. Why not have a browse and see what tools will help you in your service?
Always tailor your language and explanations to the age and comprehension level of the young person you’re speaking to. Avoid medical jargon and use simple, clear terms – and avoid any words that can trigger fear.
Another great way to keep people informed about their sexual health is to use storytelling from real people. There are lots of resources online that can help with this such as Play Safe’s Pros selection of curated videos on sexual health, and videos on the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA)’s YouTube channel.
If the young person you’re speaking with is concerned about HIV or believes they are at risk, support them to contact their GP or chat to a nurse at the NSW Sexual Health Infolink (SHIL) for more information.
If you or the young people you’re working with want to know more information about HIV, the resources below can help:
