Sexuality Transmitted Infection (STIs, HIV/AIDs) JSS1 Home Economics Lesson Note

MEANING, CAUSES, SIGNS AND PREVENTION 

MEANING OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS)

Sexual activity comes with risks of sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs/STIs), including HIV/AIDS. While some can be treated, others cannot. They can cause very serious damage to the body and even death. STD is an illness spread from one person to another through sexual contact.

TYPES OF STDs

1. GONORRHEA: This is caused by the bacterium “Neisseria gonorrhea”. It is spread through sexual contact between infected persons.

SYMPTOMS

i. Itching and discharge from penis and vagina

ii. Painful urination  

iii. Can cause infertility

iv. If a pregnant woman has the disease, her child’s eyes will be affected at birth                           

Treatment is with antibiotics

2. SYPHILIS:  It is caused by the bacterium “Treponema palladium”. It is spread through sexual contact between infected persons.

SYMPTOMS

1.     Sores on the sex organs
2.     Fever, aches, rashes, and hair loss.                                                   
3.   At later stages, it affects the heart, eyes, and brain.
4.   It can lead to insanity and death.

Treatment is with antibiotics.

3. ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS): one of the most frightening of all STDs is AIDS. It is caused by:

•   A virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• HIV enters the body of a person and kills the cells of the immune system.
•   HIV makes the body weak and less able to fight sickness.
• People with HIV in their bodies go on to become sick with AIDS. AIDs results in death.

HOW HIV CAN BE SPREAD

1.       Having sex with someone who already has HIV

• Transfusion of infected blood
•   Use of a needle or blade that has been used on a person with HIV and not sterilized afterward.
• Women with HIV can pass it to their babies. The baby becomes infected in any of these three ways
•           While in the mother’s womb
•           At birth
•          Through the breast milk (breastfeeding).

SIGNS OF HIV/AIDS

1. People with HIV/AIDS suffer sicknesses like fever, rashes, and diarrhea.
2. They also lose weight
3. Death is the final result.

TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS

 i.At the moment, there is no known cure for HIV/AIDS

ii. There are, however, medicines that can help infected persons to fight off the sickness that comes with HIV/AIDS

iii. Antibiotics and other medicines can help people with HIV/AIDS feel much better and help to live longer.

WAYS STIs AND HIV CAN BE PREVENTED

1. Do not have sex until you get married, when you are married; stay faithful to your partner.
2. An infected and already sexually active person must have sex only with a mutually faithful partner who is also known to be unfaithful.
3. In all other situations, individuals are advised to use condoms during sex.
4. Women with HIV should seek advice before getting pregnant.
5. Avoid blood transfusion as much as possible
6. When you cannot avoid a blood transfusion, insist on having blood that has been tested for HIV.

Evaluation:

1. Mention the different types of STIs
2. State causes and ways of preventing STIs, HIV/AIDs

Assignment:

What are the effects of HIV/AIDs on the victims, the victims’ families, and the nation?