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Preventing
HIV After Rape
Laboratory Tests for HIV
Key
Points about HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS
Counselling
HIV/AIDS
and Tuberculosis (TB)
Sexually
Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Preventing
HIV After Rape
(Source: Preventing HIV After Rape - an informative
booklet produced by the AIDS Law Project at the University
of the Witwatersrand)
What are my rights?
- You have the right to be treated with respect and
dignity at all times by doctors, nurses, police officers,
prosecutors and social workers who help you after
the rape.
- You have the right to be given full and accurate
information about your health. Health workers must
tell you about any medicines they can recommend to
you, as well as the cost of these medicines.
- You have the right to emergency medical treatment
if you are seriously injured even if you can't pay
for it.
- Information about your health is confidential. No
health care worker can tell others about your HIV
status without your permission.
- You have the right to refuse treatment.
I am worried about being exposed to HIV after rape
- What can I do?
There are anti-retroviral medicines that you can take
that may reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV.
You can take these medicines (anti-retrovirals) if
you have been raped or forced to have anal sex:
- You have been told about how these medicines might
stop you from being infected with HIV.
- You have been told about the possible side-effects
of these medicines.
- You have had an HIV test and have tested negative.
- You have made your own choice to take these medicines.
How can I get these medicines?
- Go to a doctor as soon as you can and ask about
anti-retroviral medicines that could reduce the risk
of getting HIV. These medicines are called "post-exposure
prophylaxis" or PEP. You must start taking the
medicine as soon as possible. If more than 72 hours
(3 days) have passed since you were raped, it is too
late for these medicines to reduce the risk of getting
HIV from rape.
- You should ask the doctor to give you an HIV test.
Before taking an HIV test you must be counselled and
receive information about what the test means. You
should also get counselling after you have received
the results of an HIV test.
- While you are waiting for the results of the HIV
test, the doctor may give you the medicine so that
you can start taking it immediately. This is called
a starter pack.
- If you test HIV positive, the medicines that may
reduce your risk of getting HIV from rape, will be
stopped. Ask the doctor about things you can do to
look after yourself when you have HIV. Find out about:
organisations and people that can help you live positively
and taking anti-retrovirals that will help you manage
HIV.
- If you only get a starter pack, go back to the doctor
to get the results of your HIV test. Also get the
rest of the medicines if you are HIV negative. If
you think it will be impossible for you to come back
to the doctor to get the rest of the medicines, remember
to ask the doctor for all the medicines in the beginning.
- If you test HIV negative, take the medicine for
28 days. Remember that the starter pack of 3 days'
medicine will not protect you from HIV. You must take
the full course for all 28 days or it will not work.
- These medicines are strong and may have side-effects
like headaches, tiredness, skin rash, a running stomach,
nausea and others. These side-effects are usually
not serious and will not last long. If the side-effects
are very unpleasant, go back to the doctor.
- Have another HIV test after six weeks, three months
and again after six months after the rape. It is very
important for you to find out the results of your
HIV test so that you can know your HIV status. If
you test HIV negative each time, it means that you
did not contract HIV from the rape.
Where can I get these medicines?
You can get these medicines at state hospitals and some
clinics for free. If the hospital cannot give them to
you, call the AIDS Helpline (0800-012-322) and ask them
where you can get these medicines. This is a free call.
You can also get these medicines at a chemist, but
you will need a prescription and they may be expensive
to buy. Many medical aid schemes now provide anti-retrovirals,
so specifically ask about them.
Can Children Use These Medicines?
Yes. If you are over 14 you do not need your parent
or guardian's permission to have an HIV test. You also
do not need their permission to take these medicines.
If you are younger than 14 years, one of your parents,
or your guardian or the hospital superintendent will
have to give consent. But there may be emergency situations
where children under 14 have been raped and need urgent
assistance. In these situations, doctors should be guided
by the best interests of their patients and their duty
to give emergency medical treatment.
There are other steps you can take to protect your
health:
Ask the doctor for:
-
Antibiotic medicines to stop you from getting a
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs) from the rapist.
-
The 'morning-after' pill to prevent you from becoming
pregnant from the rape.
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Medicine that would prevent you from getting Hepatitis
B from the rapist.
-
If you are pregnant, find out about the possibility
of HIV infection for your unborn baby from your
doctor.
-
If you become pregnant from the rape, you can also
discuss the termination of the pregnancy with your
doctor or a health care worker.
-
If you are having sex, always use a condom. This
is safer for you and your partner.
Rape is very traumatic. It is important
that you talk to someone who can listen to you and support
you after the rape. A counsellor can help you cope with
your feelings.
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AIDS
& HIV Charter
(Source: The AIDS Consortium)
In
the light of: The existing discrimination against persons
with AIDS or HIV and their partners, families and care-givers,
the danger that the growth of the epidemic in South
Africa will lead to an increase in unfair and irrational
treatment of those affected by AIDS and HIV, the desirability
of greater awareness and knowledge of AIDS and HIV among
all South Africans, and the need for concerted action
by all South Africans to stop the spread of HIV, this
Charter sets out those basic rights which all citizens
enjoy or should enjoy and which should not be denied
to persons affected by HIV or AIDS, as well as certain
duties.
Read
the full document here...
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Laboratory
Tests for HIV
 Professor
Alan Smith - Head of Virology answers questions relating
to HIV-testing:
HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus like
any other organism be it bacteria such as those causing
cholera, typhoid or tuberculosis; or a parasite such
as those causing malaria are all foreign to the human
body and are recognised as such by our immune system.
Any foreign substance, such as those given as examples
above, are termed ANTIGENS
because they act as a stimulus to the body to produce
ANTIBODIES. Both of these
entities are highly specific, that is to say, one type
of antigen will cause the production of a specific antibody;
for instance the antibody produced in response to the
'flu virus will be different from the antibody produced
in response to hepatitis virus or the HI-virus. From
the above it is easy to see that we do not have HIV
antibodies if we have not been exposed to (had in our
body) the HIV (antigen).
Read
the full document here...
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Key
Points About HIV/AIDS
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HIV/AIDS
educational posters
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(Source:
Department of Health HIV/AIDS and STD Directorate)
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a disease
that affects millions of South Africans. It is caused
by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
that slowly weakens a person’s ability to fight
off other diseases.
HIV is spread from one person to another :
- by having unprotected sex with an infected person
- through contact with infected blood
- from an infected mother to her unborn or newborn
baby (but only some babies born to infected mothers
become infected with HIV)
You cannot be infected with HIV in other ways. For
example, if a person with HIV coughs, he or she cannot
pass on the virus. If you hug or touch a person with
HIV, you cannot get HIV.
Most people who are infected with HIV do not know they
are infected, and you cannot tell if a person is infected
just by looking at them. It takes many years for the
signs of HIV infection to show up. This is usually when
a person becomes ill from other diseases.
An HIV blood test can be done at some clinics, or by
a doctor, or at an AIDS Training, Information and Counselling
Centre (ATICC) in most cities. You cannot be forced
to have an HIV test. It is your choice. The results
are confidential and only told to you. Having the test
will help you to better plan your future and to prevent
the spread of HIV.
HIV infection can be prevented by:
- saying "No" to sex
- staying faithful to your sexual partner
- using a condom every time you have sex
- asking your healthworker about HIV risks when you
are pregnant
- preventing direct contact with blood by using gloves,
plastic bags or other barriers.
There is no cure for AIDS, but many people infected
with HIV live long and healthy lives. They do this by
taking care of their health, keeping fit, getting treatment
when they are sick, eating correct foods, reducing stress
and practising safer sex.
If you have any questions about HIV/AIDS,
you can phone the free 24-hour AIDS Helpline on 0800-0123-22
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HIV/AIDS
Counselling
(Source: Department of Health HIV/AIDS and STD Directorate)
People who are HIV-positive may find it difficult to
talk to their friends and family about their feelings.
They also have many decisions to make about their life.
Friends and family members may not know how to talk
to those who are close to them who are HIV-positive.
It is important that people who feel this way have a
chance to talk about these feelings with an experienced
counsellor. Counsellors are trained to listen and can
provide accurate information to assist people with decisionmaking.
Anyone having an HIV/AIDS test should speak to a counsellor
before the test, and should be able to discuss their
test results with a counsellor. Counsellors can also
offer ongoing support, information and advice to HIV-postiive
people, their partners, friends and family.
There are many organisations that offer counselling
face-to-face or over the telephone. Counselling is available
from:
- AIDS Training, Information and Counselling Centres
(ATICCs) in most big towns
- The free 24-hour AIDS Helpline at 0800-012-322
- Social workers and some community organisations
 A
counsellor:
- must treat what you tell them confidentially
- should provide a private place for you to talk
- should not judge you or your situation
- should be understanding and allow you to express
your feelings
- should advise you of your options but not make decisions
for you
- should give you information that will help you make
informed decisions
- should be supportive
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HIV/AIDS
and Tuberculosis (TB)
(Source: Department of Health
HIV/AIDS and STD Directorate)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that usually affects
the lungs and is passed on by coughing. Most people
on TB treatment cannot infect others.
HIV is spread from one person to another:
- by having unprotected sex with an infected person
- through contact with infected blood
- from an infected mother to her unborn or newborn
baby (but only some babies born to infected mothers
become infected with HIV).
Because HIV/AIDS affects the body’s ability
to fight disease
- people with HIV/AIDS can easily get TB, BUT
- not everyone with TB has HIV/AIDS, and not everyone
with HIV/AIDS has TB.
A person who has TB may have the following symptoms:
- coughing for more than three weeks
- coughing up blood
- losing weight and appetite
- sweating at night
- feeling tired
- pain in the chest
If you think you have TB, you should go to a clinic
immediately. You will be asked to cough up fluid (sputum)
which will be tested to show if you have TB or not.
TB CAN BE CURED
whether you have HIV or not. Pills must be taken regularly
for at least six months. It is not always easy to remember
to take pills for such a long time.
- To help people with TB in their treatment, the Department
of Health is using a system called DOTS.
- DOTS is a system that encourages treatment supporters,
such as co-workers or community members, to help people
with TB to take their pills regularly.
Actions you can take include:
- helping people with TB by becoming a treatment supporter
- giving care and support to people who have TB and/or
HIV/AIDS
- completing your treatment if you have TB
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Sexually
Transmitted Diseases (STDS)
(Developed for the Department
of Health and STD Directorate)
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases
caused by germs that are passed from one person to another
during sex.
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STDs
can be cured.
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You may have an STD if you have one or more of the
following symptoms:
- pus or smelly fluids coming out of the penis or
vagina
- blisters, sores or warts on the penis or vagina
- pain or burning when urinating
- pain during sex
- pain in the lower abdomen
- unusual swelling near the penis or vagina
- itching on or near your genitals
If you think you have an STD, you should go to a doctor,
clinic or hospital for treatment. STDs can be cured
with pills. Sometimes an injection is given. If you
have an STD, your healthworker will advise you to:
- finish the course of treatment that you are given
- advise your sexual partner(s) to go for treatment
- use condoms every time you have sex
Untreated STDs can result in serious illness and infertility.
They also lead to easier infection with HIV. STDs cause
sores and also weaken the skin of the penis or vagina,
making it easier for HIV to enter the body. STD infection
can also be passed on to an unborn or newborn baby by
an infected mother.
If you have any questions about HIV/AIDS, you can phone
the free 24-hour AIDS HelpLine at 0800
012 322.
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