Safer Sex

Sexual Harm Reduction
 
Most people know that serious, even life-threatening, infections like HIV, hepatitis and other sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) can be passed from one person to another through sex. One approach to lowering this risk is called "harm reduction." If you do not want to abstain from sex (not have sex at all), harm reduction offers options to make sexual activity safer.

Safer sex isn’t only for the prevention of new HIV infections. It’s important for people who are HIV+, too. A couple where both partners are HIV+ can use safer sex to prevent co-infection with other STDs that can weaken the immune system. Safer sex can also reduce the possibility of getting reinfected (also called superinfected) with a strain of HIV that is resistant to the drug regimen you are taking.

Since every sexual act that involves sexual fluids or blood has at least some risk, safer sex means using barriers every time. Barriers include condoms (male and female), dental dams (thin squares of latex), and even latex gloves. Barriers help reduce risk substantially.
Even though it is the safest thing to do, some couples do not always use barriers. If this is the case, you can still practice some kind of harm reduction.
Practicing Safer Sex

Sometimes the place to start in safer sex is to identify the riskiest thing you do and then think about how you could make that activity less risky. The following are some safer sex tips, starting with the most risky activities and moving to less risky activities:

Penetrative Sex (sex in anus or vagina)

Penetrative sex is considered the highest-risk activity. For both vaginal and anal sex, use latex condoms and water- or silicone-based lubricant (lube) to prevent the condom from breaking. (Lube also helps condoms feel better.) Do not use oil-based lubes like Vaseline, Crisco, or baby oil with condoms because they increase the risk of the condom breaking.

If you’re not going to use condoms, try to reduce the friction by using a lot of lube to help prevent small cuts or tears in the vagina, rectum, or penis. Silicone-based lube will last longer than water-based lube. Because you’re not using a condom, oil-based lube can also be used. Avoid getting semen in the body by having the man pull out before cumming.

Oral Sex
A number of studies have demonstrated a low but definite level of risk associated with oral sex. To make it safer, use latex condoms for oral sex on a man. If you perform oral sex without a condom, finish up with your hand, or spit semen out and rinse with a dental wash rather than swallowing.

Dental dams are squares made from latex. Put some water- or silicone-based lube on one side of the dental dam or a condom that has been cut open. Then stretch the dam or condom over the vagina or anus with the lubed side facing away from your mouth. This gives you a thin barrier between your mouth and the vagina or anus. (NOTE: Some people use plastic food wrap instead of dental dams or cut-open condoms. Plastic food wrap may prevent the transmission of herpes infections, but there is no proof that it can prevent the transmission of HIV.)

If you don’t use a barrier, avoid getting precum, semen, or vaginal fluids in your mouth. Avoid vaginal oral sex during menstruation to prevent contact with blood. Bad oral hygiene (bleeding gums, ulcers, gum disease) can make oral sex much riskier. Use a mint instead of brushing your teeth before sex.

Paper cuts and other openings in the skin can make your hands vulnerable to infection. Wearing latex gloves keeps you protected during hand-vagina or hand-anus sex. Adding water- or silicone-based lube to the outside of the gloves will increase your partner’s pleasure.

Other safer sex tips: Limit the time and frequency of penetrations. Try non-penetrative sex for a change. For example, consider mutual masturbation. Also get medical attention for any infections or health problems in the genital area.

Thinking it Through

Try and change ways of thinking that make it difficult for you to practice safer sex. The things you think influence how you act.

Thought: "We slipped once and forgot to use a condom, so it's too late now."
New idea: It's never too late. Yes, even one exposure can be dangerous, but it's not as dangerous as a hundred exposures! If you slipped once, it's time to get back on the wagon.

Thought: "Safer sex is such a drag. It's no fun."
New idea: Here's a great chance to spice up your sex life. Why not take one of the workshops offered on "Eroticizing Safer Sex?" How about getting a book, video, or DVD about hot safer sex?

Thought: "I can't feel anything through condoms!"
New idea: Time to change brands! Getting free condoms at the health office or buying them at a drugstore may be cheap, but you're probably not getting the best around. Try some of the variety packs offered by mail-order sex supply catalogs or hit the "adult love" stores in your area for a better selection. The best condoms are thin but tough and transmit heat and sensation well.

Thought: "My partner absolutely refuses to use a condom."
New idea: How comfortable are you with someone who is willing to put your life at risk? This sounds like a serious issue, and it's probably not the only one in your relationship. Have you considered individual or couple's counseling?

Thought: "I can't suggest to my girl/guy that we get an HIV test. We've been together so long that s/he would take it as an insult."
New idea: How about presenting it as an act of love? "You know, I really love you. We've been together for awhile, but we never got tested for HIV. I hate the thought that I could be putting you at risk, because I couldn't stand to hurt you. Why don't we go get tested together for our peace of mind?"

Sometimes the safest thing you can do in sex is keep a clear head. Sex when you are drunk or under the influence of drugs may be most likely to be unsafe.

REFRESHER TRAINING ON HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING

The Salvation Army HIV Unit will be providing free Mobile HIV counselling and testing (MHCT) to the public. The services are provided across ten Health facilities in two States- Akwa Ibom (Oron) and Cross River (Ikot Omin), Imo (Akokwa), Ondo (Akure) and Rivers (Diobu).

The second round of testing will be conducted in the above mentioned States. There will be a week refresher training for HIV Counselors and Bleeders.

You can also access Some of the Health facilities providing the services in the state where the testing is taking place:

1. Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH) Medical Centre, Calabar.
2. Mount Zion Medical Centre, Calabar, Cross River State
3. Youth Friendly Centre, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
4. HCT Centre, 20 Ikot Abasi street, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
5. Uduak Abasi Clinic, Abak L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State
6. CHC,Okon Eket, Eket L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State

Some of the benefits of HIV testing include:

• HIV counselling and testing (HCT) enables an individual to know his or her HIV sero status on time .
• It enables an infected person (HIV positive) to gain early assess to Anti Retroviral drugs for longevity.
• It also helps those living with the virus to assess basic care and support services that enable them live positive and healthy lives etc.

Frontier Story Uruk Otong

During the team’s SALT visits, we met a native doctor who believes in the existence of HIV/AIDS and also educated the team in is own little way, his interaction with the team was a little bit tough in the sense that this young man told us stories of many people that were sick and went to the hospital for tests, diagnosed HIV positive by the doctor’s result but the native doctor believes that it is a “family attack”   which means that it is a sickness somebody did t them and not really HIV.

The man (Native Doctor) stated in his statement that the sick persons get healed, few weeks after taking his medications.  The man seem to believe that HIV can only be contracted through sexual intercourse, because he sees multiple sex practices among married people and pre-marital sex practices amongst youths in the community as a way of life and concludes other ways of transmission suggested by the team e.g. unsterilized sharp objects, parent to child transmission, blood transfusion, accident victim etc. the team’s conversation with the man ended un-concluded because of his visitors, but the team made another SALT visit to the native doctor, where all is doubt about HIV/AIDS were clarified. He thanks the team for picking so much interest in him and the team in turn thank him for his time.

Story 2

The team met with some women and young women in one of the oil mills in the community, the interaction was a very interesting and educating one, because of the sincerity and openness of the women.  During the sharing period, the team discover that one of the women who is married, is very sexually active and also practicing extra-marital affair and she asked the team of what to do in protecting her herself from contracting the virus. The team assessed her knowledge on condom use, because she has been having sex with other men and without protecting herself and she has never gone for an HIV counselling and testing. The preached faithfulness in marriage and she said, that a man cannot satisfied her sexual appetite. Then the team went on to talk about condom use, on hearing this she was so excited and had hand shakes with all the team-mates. The team advice her to go to any general hospital to know her HIV status. Another young woman who was present during the conversation expressed that condom use doesn’t allow sex to pleasurable; the team seized that opportunity to encourage the young women to abstain from sex until they are married and the married women to be faithful to their husband, since condom was not 100% safe and to help mitigate the rate of HIV infection in their community.

Story 3

The team met with Ini-ibehe, he was staying at Opobo in River State and later relocated to the village where he is staying with step mother who is also an orphaned.

He was seen playing musical instrument in the church with three of his friends, where a team-mate approached them and started a conversation with them and they were later invited to help the team move their belonging which they did gladly.

The team later invited the four friends who were also Salvationist to join the team, they all promise to think about it. Ini-ibehe was the first to make up his mind in joining the team. He was so pleased with all the team activities and said “What a wonderful team that is committed to helping other young people discover their potentials” and also said, he joined the team to have a better understanding of the programme.

He is a youth in the community and a very active one. He was sexually active, keeping of bad friends and also keeping of late night until his encounter with the frontier team. Some of the team-mate shared their personal experiences with him, which stimulated him to say, that he wants to have a change of heart, which includes, going to church every Sunday. He joined the team during the SALT Visits, Church facilitation and team devotion. He later persuaded Abasiofiok to come join the team, while Udo and Ofonime where still thinking of joining the team. 

He use to very shy and scared to face a larger group, but during the team building, he played a major role in facilitating the other youth from the community, by sharing his experienced with them.  He also led the team into the community during the SALT visits.

THE FACILITATION TEAM MANUALS

TSAN Tools

Choose Life Manual

Facilitators Manual (AIDS Competence)

THE TERRITORIAL FACILITATION TEAM MEETING
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/77299390/THE-TERRITORIAL-FACILITATION-TEAM-MEETING

THE TERRITORIAL FACILITATION TEAM MEETING
Akwa Ibom South East
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/77299101/THE-TERRITORIAL-FACILITATION-TEAM-MEETINGS

FACILITATION PROCESS
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/77158830/?key=N2E3YTI2YmIt&pass=MzBkZi00MDBm

DEALING WITH HIV
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/77158694/?key=YmE5NjY0MjAt&pass=NTcxNS00MmIw

STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/77158617/?key=OTM3MzJkZjIt&pass=ZjkxMi00NTJk

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHO-SOCIAL SUPPORT TOOLS
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/77158006/?key=NGNlZDEyN2Et&pass=YzdmZS00MzQ0


The above links, takes you to the site that the files are saved. Click on the link to take you to the main site. Note that the Manual is still at the draft stage.

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