what are the myths of hiv/aids
HIV Myth 2: 'HIV and AIDS Are the Same Thing'. Absolutely not. HIV is the virus that infects a person and attacks the immune system. AIDS is the disease that develops later in people with HIV that remain untreated or don't respond to treatment.
Myth One. Myth: AIDS is mostly an African problem. Fact: Of the 42 million people around the world who live with HIV/AIDS, 70% are in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV/AIDS exists and is spreading in Africa in a socioeconomic context created by western colonialism and, more recently, western trade and economic policies.
HIV Myth 3: 'I Donât Need to Worry â HIV/AIDS Only Infects Gay Men'. This couldn't be further from the truth. HIV is transmitted through an exchange of body fluids, specifically semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk, blood or pre-ejaculatory fluids. Most men become HIV-positive through sexual contact with other men.
MYTH: AIDS is not caused by HIV. DEBUNKING: This is the biggie, of course. As long ago as 1983, researchers first isolated HIV from people with AIDS. By 1985, they had developed a test showing that the overwhelming majority of people with AIDS have antibodies to HIV in their blood.
Myth: If Iâm diagnosed with HIV, my life is over. Fact: Having HIV does not automatically mean you have AIDS. Many years may pass before people with the virus feel ill or develop the disease. Many people now live long and active lives with HIV because of medical advancements.