Table 1: FAQ On HIV/AIDS

Q. Is HIV and AIDS one and the same ? A. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus which kills white blood cells with the result that the body immune system becomes very weak. When a person gets infected by this virus, he is said to have got HIV. When the body immune system becomes weak the body is unable to fight off any infections. This makes the body prone to attacks from all infections (Opportunistic Infections) like- TB, Candidiasis, Pneumonia etc...When these opportunistic infections start setting in the person is said to have reached the AIDS stage (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome). Q. What is the life span of a HIV +ve person ? A. The life span of a HIV+ person varies from person to person, and is dependent on a lot of factors (like Diet, Lifestyle, Access to Medication etc). The life span can vary from 6 months to more than 15 years. Q. How does a person get infected with HIV ? A. Having unprotected sex with a person infected with HIV (man or woman); receiving blood, blood products, organs from a person infected with HIV; sharing unsterilized injection needle/s with an person infected with HIV, MTCT (HIV infected Mother to Child Transmission). Q. Does HIV infection happen to specific communities ? A. All communities of all races, nations, religions, caste, age, sexual orientation (hetrosexual, homosexuals, bisexuals, transgenders, hijaras etc..) run the risk of getting HIV. Q. Does HIV spread thru mosquito bites ? A. Definitely Not. Q. Does HIV spread thru shaking hands, sharing a toilet, sharing food and drinks with a HIV +ve person ? A. Definitely Not. A person who is infected with HIV should not carry these fears (of spreading the infection to others) through the abov mentioned actions. Those who are not infected with HIV should not have these fears either. Q. Can I get HIV infection by hugging a person ? A. Definitely Not. Q. Can I get HIV infection by wet kissing a HIV infected person ? A. Very low chance. Although saliva of a HIV infected person has the virus in it, the HIV concentration in saliva is very low. But if the person has bleeding gums or wounds inside his mouth then there is a risk of getting infected. Q. Should condoms be used when practicing oral sex ? A. It would be safer to do so. Q. When using a condom which lubricants can be used ? A. Do not use Oil based lubricants as they weaken the condom. Use water based lubricants only, like KY Jelly. Do not used Oil, Vasline or any petroleum based lubricants. They weaken the condom. Q. Can I get HIV by swallowing my own semen ? A. No. Q. Should I get tested for HIV ? A. You should got in for a pre-test counseling which will enable you to understand the various issues involved. Based on such a discussion you can decide whether you want to get tested. Q. What is HIV pre-test counseling ? A. A HIV pre-test counseling is a confidential discussion between the HIV counselor and you. The discussion focuses on giving information on HIV, HIV test, Window Period, Safe sex practices, Ethical issues of testing. Your sexual lifestyle, sexually transmitted diseases history is also discussed in a non-threatening, non-judgmental, non-discriminatory fashion. Based on all the information it is easier for you to decide for yourself whether you should take such a test. Note that your name/address/phone number is not asked for, so you do not need to worry about disclosure of your identity whatever the result of the test. Also not that this testing is done for free in clinics managed by NARI (National AIDS Research Institute, Bhosari, Pune). If a doctor is available and you have an STD (sexually transmitted disease) he can examine you and give you treatment. Q. What is a Window Period ? A. The test that is normally done is called Eliza test. The Eliza test looks for HIV antibodies. After getting infected by HIV virus, it takes about 3 months for antibodies for HIV to be created in the body. During this time if the test is done, the test result is not accurate. This period is called the 'Window' period, where the virus may be present in the body and yet the test is not able to detect it. Q. What is HIV post-test counseling ? A. A HIV post-test counseling is a confidential discussion between the HIV counselor and you. The discussion focuses on giving you the result of the test. The result is not given to anyone but you (not even to your family member or relative or friend). Based on the result the rest of the discussion focuses on addressing safe sex issues, disclosure of your HIV status (if you are infected with HIV) to your partner, diet, medicine options, next test date etc. Q. Where can I get tested for HIV where confidentiality is guaranteed and where my sexual lifestyle will not be judged or discriminated against ? A. In Pune, NARI (National AIDS Research Institute) has a lot of clinics where you can get tested. A pre-test counseling is done, then a small amount of blood is taken for the test. You are given a token with a number and that token number becomes your identity (So you see your name/address is not asked for). You are called back after a week with the token to get the result. A post-test counseling is done. The result is given to you (no one else is given your result, not even to your family or close relatives). The clinics also have facilities to examine you for STD's (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). STD's are treated for free. If you want, we will be happy to get you in touch with such a clinic and the doctor-in-charge. The clinics are located in Gadikhana (near Mandai), Sasoon Hospital (Pune Station), Talera Hospital (Chinchwad), NARI Headquarters (Bhosari). Q. What is HIV- ? What is HIV+ ? A. If your HIV test result mentions HIV + (positive), it means you are infected with the HIV virus. If the test result mentions HIV- (negative) it means the test has not been able to detect the HIV infection in you. This could be because you are not infected with HIV or you are infected with HIV but are in the Window Period and hence the test cant detect the antibodies for HIV. Q. Are there any medicines for HIV ? A. There are medicines for controlling the growth of HIV. The medicines are called ARV (Anti Retroviral Therapy). There are no medicines for curing HIV. There is no cure for HIV in any branch of medicine (allopathy, homeopathy, ayurved) or other practices (Unani medicine, Reiki, Magnet Therapy, Numerology, Feng Shui, Vaastu Shastra) etc.. Q. What is ARV ? A. ARV (Anti Retroviral Therapy) includes a combination of drugs (NRTI / NNRTI / PI) to be taken daily for your entire lifetime. It controls and slows down the replication of the virus. Note that it is not able to eliminate the virus. So this regimen is not a cure. It helps prolong the life span of the individual. Q. My HIV test shows +ve. My doctor (or counselor) has advised me to start ARV immediately. Should I do it ? A. ARV is very costly and few can afford it. Once started it, has to be taken for your entire lifetime. It also it has a lot of side effects and the Drug Regimen has to adhered to strictly. If you fail to take drugs for even 4-6 days, the virus will develop resistance to the drugs. So it is very important for you to consult a HIV/AIDS Counselor and a HIV specialist before you go in for ARV. Q. I have / or had one of the STD's (Sexually Transmitted Disease). Should I get tested for HIV ? A. The chance of acquiring HIV infection thru unprotected sex when you have an STD is higher. You can go in for HIV pre-test counseling and then decide whether you want to go in for the test.

Table 2: FAQ On Homosexuality

Q. Who is a Homosexual, Hetrosexual and Bisexual ? A. A person who has emotional and sexual attraction towards a member of the same gender is called a Homosexual. Other words for Homosexual are 'Queer', 'Gay'. In Marathi and Hindi the word 'Samalingi' is used to describe a Homosexual. Generally the word Gay is used to describe a man who is attaracted (emotionally and sexually) to another man and a Lesbian is a woman who is attaracted (emotionally and sexually) towards another woman. A person who has attraction towards a member of the opposite gender is said to be Hetrosexual. Another word for Hetrosexual is 'Straight'. A person who is attracted towards members of the same sex as well as members of the opposite sex is said to be Bisexual. Q. Is Homosexuality a Western Concept ? A. No. Homosexuality has existed in India for centuries. There are many carvings on Khajuraho Temples that depict homosexual acts. Homosexuality has been mentioned in "Kamasutra". Q. Isnt Homosexuality abnormal/unnatural ? Is it an illness ? A. No. Homosexuality is not abnormal. About 5 % of all men (this includes Indians) are exclusively Gay and about 3 % of all women (this includes Indians) are Lesbians. Homosexuality is not an illness. WHO (World Health Organization) no longer classifies homosexuality as an illness. APA (American Psychiatrists Association) also does not classify homosexuality as an illness. Homosexuality is also not unnatural. Homosexuality has been documented in hundreds of species of animals, birds and fish. Q. How come homosexuality does not exist in animals ? A. Homosexuality also exists in animals, birds and birds. Bruce Bagemihl's Book "Biological Exuberance-Homosexuality in the Animal kingdom" is an excellent reference. Q. If there are so many Indians who are Homosexuals, how come I havnt met any ? A. It is quite possible for you to have a Gay relative/friend/neighbour/colleague. Because Indian society is very conservative, there are very few people who let it be known publicly that they are Gay. Most live a secret life. This is called being in the 'Closet'. Those who are openly Gay are said to be 'Out'. Q. Is Paedophilia and Homosexuality the same ? A. No. Paedophilia and Homosexuality are two different things. Paedophiles have emotional and sexual interest in children (mainly in children of the opposite sex). Homosexuals have emotional and sexual interest in adults of the same gender. Q. Isnt bad parenting responsible for the child becoming Gay ? A. Definitely Not. There are a wide variety of factors that come in play for someone to be Gay. Till now we dont know how a person becomes Gay, just as we dont know how a person becomes Straight. Q. What is Homophobia ? A. Some hetrosexuals are uncomfortable that two members of the same sex can be emotionally and sexually attached to each other. Their discomfort stems from the fact that they have never had these feelings and the same sex attaraction makes them feel insecure of their own manhood / womanhood. Q. Can Homophobia be rid off ? A. It takes a long time to do so. It is important for a homophobic person to make an effort to make friends with people who are comfortable being Gay. By doing this their misunderstandings about Gays will slowly disappear. Their insecurity will also disappear. But this will take time as they have grown up in an environment of bias and hate towards same sex relationships. Q. We have heard that Homosexuality can be cured. Is that true ? A. There is no cure for homosexuality...because it is not an illness. If you do come across someone who promises a cure...be warned it is because the person is either homophobic or after your money or both. Q. I am in the closet. Should I come out ? A. This is an individual decision. You can go in for counseling to look at all the options available and take an informed decision. Q. Homosexuals are into recruiting and 'corrupting' adolescents. Is that true ? A. Definitely Not. Your sexual orientation cannot be decided by someone else (or for that matter even by you). You are who you are. You cannot change your orientation. Q. Homosexuals are only interested in sex and multiple partners. They cannot form an emotional bonding with anyone. Is that true ? A. Definitely Not. This is a myth spread by certain people who cannot come to terms with the fact that homosexuals can love emotionally (Its part of their homophobia). A homosexual also has a strong emotional bond with his/her partner and many long for a monogamous longterm relationship. Unfortunately Indian society being very conservative it is not easy to achieve this objective. Q. Should I get married ? A. This is an individual decision. You can go in for counseling to look at all the options available and take an informed decision. Q. If I approach your organization to disucss my issues, will I be forced to come 'Out' (tell your family/relatives/friends/colleagues/neighous that you are Gay) ? A. No. We do not force and push anyone to come 'Out'. We are not into 'Out'ing anyone. You can go in for Gay counseling and discuss all the options so that you can decide what you want to do. Q. I have some queries. I need to talk to someone in your organization, but I am afraid to contact you. A. Yes almost everyone is afraid to do the first contact. Initially you can contact us by email. As your confidence develops you can contact us on the phone. After some time as you become comfortable you can meet us either at the office or over coffee at some cafe. Note that we dont ask you for your identity.

Table 3: FAQ On Sex/Sexuality Education

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