There is no vaccine to HIV. Therefore the main way to prevent infection by HIV is to avoid activities that put you at risk such as sharing needles and having unprotected sex.

Sex and HIV

The most effective way to remain free of HIV infection (and other sexually transmitted infections) is to have only one sexual partner in your life. (This also assumes that your partner has only you as a partner.) Otherwise, use a condom when you have sex. This advice is summarized as ABC.

• Abstinence from sex until marriage (or a committed monogamous relationship).
• Be faithful from then on (both parties).
• Condoms should be used otherwise.

A campaign to promote ABC has shown some success in preventing the spread of HIV in some developing countries, particularly Uganda. Some groups are critical of this approach as they claim that promoting condom use should be the primary weapon in reducing the spread of HIV rather than promoting abstinence and faithfulness. Partly this is because the groups at the highest risk of acquiring HIV are sex workers and their clients where A and B are not appropriate. For example, condoms have been promoted as a frontline defence against HIV by countries such as Thailand where a campaign to get sex workers to insist on condoms significantly reduced HIV rates.

Note: although condoms can greatly reduce your risk of getting HIV, they don't eliminate the risk entirely. Condoms can break or develop small tears, and they may not always be used properly.

Other ways?

Some cases of HIV can be prevented in other ways. For example:

• If you are an injecting drug user then do not share needles or other injecting equipment. If available, use local needle exchange schemes.
• Health care workers should follow local guidelines to reduce the chance of needlestick injury. If you do have an injury, see your occupational health specialist urgently. A course of anti-HIV drugs started within 1-2 hours may prevent infection with HIV developing.
• If you are pregnant and have HIV infection then you need special antenatal care to reduce the risk of passing on the virus to your baby.

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