Knowing your HIV status makes a big difference

In the UK, four out of ten people with HIV get tested late. By not knowing about their infection, people with HIV may unknowingly pass the virus on to other people. They also risk developing a serious illness. In this article, we read about  ‘Martha Munzolo’, an African woman who delayed going for a test.

The Outreach Worker picked up the phone: ‘Hello?’

A faint, shaky voice replied: “It’s Martha Munzolo. I just want to say, I wish I’d followed your advice. I’m seriously ill in hospital. Please visit me when you have the time.”

This came as a shock. The Outreach Worker had met Martha a few times when he was talking about HIV in the community. Each time he asked Martha to think about an HIV test. “Sure, I’ll go,” she said but never kept the promises. She still hadn’t tested by the time she lost touch with the Outreach Worker.

Then one day she became very ill and was rushed to hospital.

This shows the risks many in the African community take because they don’t feel confident testing for HIV, even when they think they might have it. By delaying testing people with HIV put themselves at risk of serious illnesses and don’t get the benefits of treatment soon enough.

Why is it good to know if you have HIV or not?

You take a car to a garage for an MOT test, to check for mechanical problems. If the mechanic finds one he can put it right before it gets dangerous.

HIV tests are like an MOT for the body. If the doctor finds you have HIV they can help you to stop your health getting dangerously bad. Clinic staff have the support and information you need. There are medicines that can keep the infection under control and ensure you have a longer and healthier life.

Luckily Martha started HIV medication just in time. Her health slowly got better. After two weeks she was well enough to leave hospital.

Why is taking an HIV test important?

African communities in the UK are much more likely to have HIV than white British people. Look at these facts:

• Only 1% of the UK population are Black Africans. But they make up for 34% of people with HIV in the UK.
• Among Africans with HIV, one in three don’t know they have it
• Too many Africans find out they have HIV very late, when HIV has made them very ill.

It’s not all bad news:

• There’s no cure for HIV but good treatments can stop people getting ill. People with HIV can expect to live as long as those who don’t have it – but only if they find out they have HIV soon enough and take medication.
• HIV services (including testing) are free at hospitals, sexual health clinics and some GP’s surgeries. You can get tested at a private doctor’s surgery, but you may be asked to pay for it;
• Support groups exist in London where people share their experiences of living with HIV, learn how to make the sex they have safe, come to terms with having HIV or deal with prejudice;
• Some places now offer HIV tests with results in under an hour - so no waiting days for your result.

Myths and misunderstandings

Let’s clear up the fears and mistaken beliefs about HIV tests that keep some Africans away from clinics, such as:

‘Clinic staff will blame me if my result is ‘positive.’

• Not true. Staff are trained not make judgements about you or how you live. If you don’t want them to know why you want a test, you don’t have to tell them;

‘My result might be given to other people. What would my friends think?’

• Results are confidential. No-one is told your result unless you say that’s OK. But if you’re receiving treatment another doctor or nurse may be told so that you get the best care;

‘I worry I won’t be able to deal with a ‘positive’ result.’

• Clinics and support groups have advice to help people come to terms with their result;

‘I’m an asylum seeker. The clinic staff may report me to the Home Office and I could be deported.’

• They will not do this. They know that all asylum seekers can have free HIV tests, no matter what their immigration status is.

After a ‘positive’ test, what next?

If your test comes back ‘positive’, you can get help with;

• making future plans for you and your family;
• cutting the risk of giving HIV to others (like your partner or unborn baby);
• changing how you live (for example, by getting enough sleep, avoiding heavy work or cutting down on drinking or smoking);
• HIV medication; if you need to start this you can talk it over with your doctor;
• And if you get sick the doctor will pay closer attention to you.

If the test comes back ‘negative’, these are some of the things to think about;

• Now the worry is over you can be more determined to stay uninfected, either by waiting before you have sex, having safer sex or sex with fewer people.
• If you’re a woman who wants a child, you’ll now know the baby won’t be at risk of getting HIV from you or your partner (so long as you both stay uninfected);

What does the HIV test involve?

When you go for a HIV test, a small sample of your blood will be taken from your arm or finger tip; the sample will then be examined by a machine. Most test machines look for antibodies, a type of protein that help to protect the body against harmful foreign substances. When a person is first infected with HIV, the antibodies will react by attacking the virus. The presence of antibodies in a sample of blood would indicate that HIV infection has occurred.

How long is the wait for a test result?

Most tests taken at a sexual health clinic or community testing site will produce a result within a week. However, nowadays, many clinics also offer rapid tests which produce a result within an hour.

Worried about confidentiality?

Your test results will not be passed on to your partner, your GP, lawyer or immigration officials without your permission. However, a court could, if necessary, ask a doctor to reveal your medical records.

Help for people with newly diagnosed HIV

In London, there are a number of African support groups for people living with HIV. For details of these organisations, please call THT Direct on 0845 1221200 or African HIV Policy Network on 020 7017 8917. Information and advice can also be obtained from these telephone helplines:

National AIDS Helpline (0800 137437)
African AIDS Helpline (0800 0967500).

For more information about testing and other HIV services, please call NHS Direct on 0845 4647, or THT Direct on 0845 1221200. You can also visit these websites:

www.tht.org.uk
www.nahip.org.uk
www.aidshelpline.org.uk

Posted On: 12 June 2009 at 02:40PM
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