HIV/AIDS – 4 Hours Course

Course Description:

This one-day course comprises five (5) hours of instruction on Initial HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, aiming to equip participants with awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS and reduce the risk of infection to practitioners or other clients. The course covers the following areas:

– Understanding of the HIV virus and AIDS, including associated causes and effects.
– Education on different modes of HIV transmission.
– Practical application of infection control procedures and core competencies in clinic management of HIV/AIDS.
– Attitudinal perspectives on HIV and AIDS, including appropriate behaviors when interacting with individuals who may have the virus or syndrome.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate must be submitted, along with an HIV/AIDS application to the Florida Department of Professional Business Regulation (DPBR), for approval.

Course Outline:

1. HIV/AIDS AND OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
a. Understanding HIV/AIDS: Cause and Effect
b. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the blood-borne virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
c. AIDS is a disease that weakens the body’s immune system.
d. HIV is transmitted through contact with infected blood, body fluids, and from infected individuals.

2. Different Modes of Transmitting HIV
a. HIV transmission occurs from person to person and from an HIV-infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
b. Types of body fluids where HIV can be transmitted:
1. Blood
2. Semen
3. Pre-seminal fluid
4. Vaginal fluids
5. Rectal fluids
6. Breast milk
c. HIV is treatable but not curable.
d. Universal precautions should be used to lower the risk of infection during hair braiding, wrapping, or body wrapping.

3. Infectious Control Procedure
a. Universal Precautions are guidelines issued by the CDC and OSHA.
b. Blood-borne pathogens are microorganisms causing diseases in human blood and body fluids.
c. Exposure incidents involve contact with broken skin, blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials during work duties.

4. Management of HIV/AIDS
a. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is used to treat HIV.
b. ART prevents HIV from multiplying and reduces the virus level in the body.

5. Attitudinal views of HIV/AIDS
a. Stigma and discrimination are common towards individuals with HIV.
b. Stigmatization can lead to insults, rejection, gossip, and exclusion from social activities.
c. Addressing social issues is crucial to effectively combating the global HIV epidemic.

6. Hepatitis
a. Hepatitis is a blood-borne virus that can damage the hair.
b. Common types of hepatitis include A, B, C, and D.
c. Hepatitis A is contracted through contaminated food, while B and C are spread through body fluids.
d. Proper cleaning and disinfection are essential to prevent hepatitis transmission.

7. Tuberculosis (TB)
a. TB primarily affects the lungs and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
b. TB spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings.

8. Head Lice
a. Head lice are parasitic insects that feed on human blood and live near the scalp.
b. Head lice do not spread disease but can cause itching and discomfort.
c. Transmission occurs through head-to-head contact with an infected person.

9. Herpes Simplex
a. Herpes simplex is a viral infection characterized by fever blisters or cold sores.
b. It spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
c. There are two types: Type 1 (cold sores) and Type 2 (genital sores).

10. Influenza (Flu)
a. Influenza is a respiratory illness associated with fever.
b. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and runny nose.
c. Antiviral drugs are the best treatment when started within two days of contracting the virus.