HIV and AIDS
- Causes and Risk Factors
To become infected with HIV, some infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or other body fluids would have to get into your body. Some common modes of transmission include:
- Sexual transmission. This is the most common way to get infected by the virus. Semen, vaginal secretions and blood from an infected person contain HIV. The virus can enter the body through the lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum or mouth during sexual intercourse, causing infection.
- Needle sharing. HIV can be passed on by people who share contaminated needles, syringes and equipment.
- From mother to child. HIV can be passed to an unborn child from an HIV positive mother either during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
- Transfusion of HIV infected blood products.
One cannot get HIV from ordinary contact with another person with HIV, such as hugging, shaking hands, sharing food and utensils.
