Chezasalama - Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers - Living Positively

What is the probability of getting the wrong test result?
The probability of getting a wrong test result is very
small, except if the test is taken within three months
after being infected with HIV/AIDS.

The HIV viruses become visible in the
human blood three months after the infection took
place. In this period of three months after the
infection, there are no symptoms of the infection in the
blood at all and even the tests in the clinic can not help
to find out whether an infection took place or not. This
period is very dangerous, because a person carrying the
virus can be regarded as a healthy person and he or she
can infect other people with the disease without
knowing it.

What should I do if I find out I am HIV positive or have AIDS?
First of all do not panic. You can live with HI-Virus or AIDS for a long time providing you adhere to the following recommendations:
- Accept the situation and live positively.
- Try to lead a healthy lifestyle ÔøΩ eat nutritious foods like fruit and vegetables, take enough rest and maintain a high level of hygiene.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
- Treat any signs of opportunistic infections or any other illnesses you get quickly so you donÔøΩt get run down.
- Find a friend you can trust and talk to about the situation.
- Try to find other people living with HIV so that you can exchange information.
- Reduce sexual acts to avoid re-infection and loss of energy.
- Practice safer sex to protect your partners and stop yourself becoming re-infected.
- Use the opportunity to inform your community about HIV.

How can I find out whether I am HIV positive or negative?
There is only one way of making sure whether you are infected with HIV/AIDS or not. This is by testing your blood with a special method, which shows whether there are anti-bodies against HIV in the blood. These tests are done in hospital laboratories.

It is most important to remember that the HIV viruses only become visible in the human blood three months after the infection. In the three months after the infection with HIV/AIDS, there are no symptoms whatsoever in the blood and the test can not give you an answer to whether you have the virus or not. This period is very dangerous, because an HIV positive person can be seen as a perfectly healthy person and he or she can infect other people without knowing it.

These days there are many facilities offering testing for HIV including some health centres and the ANGAZA centres.

What does it mean if you go for an HIV test and get a negative result?
Normally people who go for testing are worried about whether they are infected or not. If you get the test result and it is negative then discuss it with your counsellor. It may be that your counsellor thinks you should come for another test after a further three months (during which time you must only have safe sex and donÔøΩt risk infection at all) so you can be really sure of your negative status.

If your counsellors thinks that one test is enough it is still recommended that you take their advice and stick to one faithful partner, uninfected partner or you use a condom or you abstain. It is even worth using a condom with your regular partner to be extra safe. Be careful and you will keep your negative status!

How long does it take until HIV can be detected in your blood after you have been infected with HIV?
After being infected with HIV it takes approximately three months until the virus can be identified in the blood by using a special test kit in the laboratory. If someone goes for a HIV test, he or she should make sure to ask which system is used at the respective testing facility and how many months have to elapse between the infection and the test, for the test to give proper results.

How do I know if Iam HIV positive?
HOW CAN YOU TELL WHO IS HIV POSITIVE?

You can not tell by looking someone if they are HIV positive. Most people who have HIV virus do not know they have it.

Having an HIV test is not an easy decision to make. But the only way to know if you have HIV virus is to have a blood test.

Why is it important to have a HIV test?
Having the HIV test it means that you are taking the responsibility for yourself.

It is the only way to know if you are HIV positive or not.

You need to know how to protect your health. Then you can stay healthy for longer.

You also need to know how to protect other people from becoming HIV positive.

REMEMBER:
It is your right to get a pre-test counseling. It is also your right to get a post-test counseling, even if your test results are negative.

HAVING THE HIV TEST
It is important to speak to a counselor or to a health worker about having a test. They can help by answering any question you may have about HIV and AIDS, and about the test.

The counselor or the health worker knows that you may be afraid and worried. They will give you support, and help you prepare for the results of the test. This is called pre-test counseling.

Some people may choose to take a friend or someone they trust with them. This person can give them support and care before and after test. You will need to talk to a counselor or a health worker when you go and get your test result. They will discuss the results with you, and what this means. This is called post-test counseling.

What is my test is negative?
This means you do not have HIV virus in your blood. You must still do these things;

You must continue to have protected sex. Do this so that you do not get the virus letter.

If you had unprotected sex recently, the virus may not show up in the first test. Wait for three months and go for another test.

Continue to learn more about HIV and AIDS.

Support those in your community who are HIV positive.

WHAT IF MY TEST IS POSITIVE?
This means you have HIV virus in your blood.

You may feel afraid and shocked. You may not believe what you hear. This is normal. Find someone who can help you deal with how you feel.

Find more about HIV and AIDS. There are a lot of advices that can help you.

Try not to panic. You can still live a healthy life for a long time with the virus in your body.

Accept that you are HIV positive, and live a normal life. That is called living positively.

How will I feel if told that I am HIV positive
This is how you may feel when you find out that you are HIV positive.

SHOCKED
you may not believe what you hear. You may even deny it and pretend that the results are not correct.

ANGRY
you may be angry with yourself for having unprotected sex. You may be angry with your partner, and blame him or her for infecting you.

AFRAID
you may be afraid of how your family will react. You may also be afraid of dying.

GUILTY
you may blame yourself for having unprotected sex. You may also feel like it is a punishment for something you have done wrong.

ALWAYS REMEMBER:
These feelings are normal. TheyÔøΩre many ways of trying to deal with your feelings. Learn to be hopeful. Hope gives you strength to cope with problems. It also helps you to live a normal and healthy life.