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On Guam who has HIV?
chart
Three years ago we ran a graph of the ethnic breakdown of people testing
positive for HIV on Guam. We hope that looking again at who is infected
may help give us an opportunity to re-examine our own sexual behavior and
needlesharing habits which could put us at risk for HIV transmission.
The
fact that Chamorros constitute the largest ethnic number of those who have
tested positive since testing began in 1985, should be no surprise. After
all, there are more Chamorros on Guam than any other ethnic category.
But,
no ethnic group is spared.
In
fact, since HIV transmission occurs between two people who are putting each
other at risk, race is not even a factor in HIV transmission. Through sexual
and needle sharing behavior individuals risk death.
So,
whether you are engaging in unprotected sex or sharing needles with a person
of any race, you could be at risking HIV, AIDS and death.
In
not knowing the HIV status of a person with whom you are sharing that needle
or experiencing an unprotected sexual moment, you are exposing yourself
to the possibility of HIV infection.
If
you are in doubt, learn your HIV status. If you are not absolutely sure
of your prospective partner's HIV status, either don't have sex or use a
condom.
Make
your own assessment about the reliability of your partners statements about
his/her HIV status.
Don't
be the next HIV/AIDS statistic.
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