It can affect anyone - male or female, married or single, young or old, rich or poor, in any community in the nation, including those in smaller cities and towns. Avoiding HIV infection Don't do drugs of any kind. Sharing needles can infect people. Drugs can cloud judgment and place individuals at higher risk of engaging in risky behavior. Delay sexual intercourse.
Abstinence is the only SURE protection.
When you decide sexual intercourse is appropriate, only do so with a partner who has been tested and has not engaged in risky sexual behaviors in the past six months. You should also be in a mutually faithful, long-term relationship. If sexual intercourse outside of a mutually exclusive relationship is chosen, use a latex condom and nonoxynol-9, according to package directions, each and every time, but remember that condoms are NOT foolproof. The simple fact that you reading this is the first step. The continuation of such myths can be very harmful.