SECTION IV

PREVENTION OF HIV AND AIDS

Module 13: VULNERABILITY TO
HIV
 Activity 1: Vulnerability of adolescents to HIV

Summing Up:
 Adolescents are at an age where they are vulnerable to experimenting and
are curious about finding out new things. Hence, it is important to give
them correct information about the ways in which HIV can be transmitted
 Adolescents need the support of their family to enable them to adopt sage
and responsible behaviours to prevent HIV infection
 As peers have an important influence on the behaviour of adolescents;
parents and teachers should be aware of the friends that adolescents
interact with
 Everyone, especially young people have the right to information and
education on HIV
 Activity 1: Vulnerability of adolescents to HIV

Summing Up:
 Empowered with accurate and age appropriate information and
skills, adolescents can adopt sage and responsible behaviours
 Parents are the most important individuals whom adolescents
look up to for support
 Schools can play an important role in HIV prevention. The
adolescents look up to their teachers for guidance. The teachers
therefore, have an added responsibility to be mentors to the
young adolescents seeking advice or counsel them when needed
 Activity 2: Vulnerability of Women to HIV

Summing Up:
 Women from all strata of life are at higher risk of HIV infection,
although current statistics may not indicate the same
 Women have limited access to health services as well as to HIV
testing facilities
 Knowledge of HIV transmission, prevention, treatment and care
is important to reduce risk of transmission and spread of the
infection
 Awareness and correct information is needed to decrease the
stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS

Contd….
 Activity 2: Vulnerability of Women to HIV

 Women in our country and reportedly worldwide, are

known not to actively seek health services for
themselves. This is due to a variety of reasons, such as
low priority to one’s own health, being too busy with
household chores with little time for health needs
 Furthermore, the society does not place a high value on
women’s health and well-being. As a result, family
resources are not distributed in their favor
 This leads to further neglect of women’s health that put
them at a higher risk of several diseases and infections,
including HIV

Contd….
 Activity 2: Vulnerability of Women to HIV

 Biologically also, women are more vulnerable to acquire

HIV infection
 It is important to empower women to negotiate safe
relationships with their partner