PARENTS AND AIDS: TALKING
TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT AIDS
AIDS is transmitted by sexual intercourse or by sharing of needles
and syringes for intravenous drug use. It may also be transmitted
from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth, and through
breast feeding. Young children who have not been exposed to these
situations are not at risk from AIDS infection.
But
because AIDS is so much in the news, young children may be very
anxious about the threat of this frightening new disease. Many are
also worried about the risk of AIDS to their parents.
This
pamphlet will help you decide what to tell your young children about
AIDS in order to allay their fears.
To
do this you will need to know some basic facts about AIDS yourself
as well as following some suggestions for discussing AIDS with your
children.
WHAT
IS AIDS?
AIDS
results from a virus infection which damages the body's defences
against disease. The body is then unable to fight off other infections
and cancers.
WHAT
IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS VIRUS DISEASE?
The AIDS virus is unusual in that it is only transmitted in certain
special ways. Another difference is that those infected may stay
well for a long time before developing the disease. They often do
not know they are infected. People with AIDS virus infection are
infectious for life. There is no cure and no vaccine for AIDS.
THERE
ARE ONLY THREE WAYS TO BECOME INFECTED
The
AIDS virus dies quickly once it is outside the body. So to catch
it, certain fluids from someone else's body (blood, semen or vaginal
fluid) have to enter your own bloodstream.
This
can happen by:
1.
Having unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex with a person.
2.
Sharing needles or syringes with a person infected with the AIDS
virus.
3.
A woman infected with AIDS virus can pass it to her child during
pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
WHAT
DOES THE AIDS VIRUS DO TO THE BODY?
Not
everyone who becomes infected will go on to develop symptoms of
AIDS. In some people the effect on the body is not obvious, and
there are no symptoms of illness. The virus is present, but not
active. In others the immune system breaks down and the person begins
to show signs of infection. And for some the immune system completely
breaks down (full-blown AIDS). These people usually die from one
or more infections or cancers that take the opportunity to attack
a defenceless body. All
people infected with the virus can pass the virus on to others in
the three ways mentioned above.
HOW
YOU DON'T GET IT
AIDS
is not a contagious disease, so the infection is easy to avoid.
You cannot be infected by AIDS virus from:
•
holding hands, hugging or social kissing,
•
sitting next to or playing with an infected person,
• toilet seats,
•
mosquitoes and other insects,
•
swimming pools, spas and saunas,
•
eating food handled by an infected person,
• sharing a room with an infected person.
So
your children are safe at school, and in all social situations.
Their only risk is through sex and intravenous drug use -a risk
which obviously increases as they get older.
WHAT
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED TO KNOW?
You
will need to judge how much to tell your children according to their
age and maturity.However,
there are some basic guidelines you can follow:
1. Reassure them about their own safety. Children who are not sexually
active and do not use intravenous drugs are not at risk.
2.
Reassure them about your safety too. Children are often concerned
that their parents may die - a fear which you can discuss.
3.
Acknowledge that your children are sexual beings-talk openly with
them about sex.
4.
Your child needs to know about protection from pregnancy and sexually
transmissible diseases, including AIDS, before becoming sexually
active. Talking about sex comes before talking about AIDS.
5.
Talk about drug use, and the reasons why people take drugs - from
alcohol to heroin. Health Promotion Services Branch has information
to help you on this topic if you need it.
6.
A child needs to be able to explore choices and make decisions,
and to communicate clearly when forming relationships. As a parent
you can assist your child by encouraging the development of these
skills.
7.
Take advantage of ordinary day-to-day situations to talk to your
child. The right time to talk about AIDS may be after a relevant
TV programme or advertisement, or following a school programme.
This can be a good time to clarify concerns and answer questions.
Source:
Aids Education Project. Western Australia
