The major medical condition related to HIV develops into AIDS after not getting treatments. No definite cure has ever found for the infectious disease, known as HIV; however, these tests, practiced frequently, ensure that less number of cases HIV is being found and helps for the patient undergoing treatment. Thus, it makes testing essential about HIV so people will understand that they have one, or be treated by making proper decisions upon health-related matter. The essay discusses why it is crucial to have frequent testing for HIV and help prevent HIV.
Table of Contents
1. Early Detection Leads to Better Management
Frequent HIV testing results in early detection, which remains one of the main reasons to test for this virus. If HIV is caught early, improvement in the management of the virus is achieved through immediate treatment commencement. ART results in a decline of the viral load, and less viral load directly reduces the potential of passing on the virus.
If an individual does not know that he or she is HIV-positive, and then he or she would unwittingly pass it to his or her sexual partner or others by the use of injected drugs or during unprotected sex. Regular testing assures people who are positive can start early with treatment; thus, their viral loads are brought down to an undetectable level, so they cannot be able to further spread the virus any more. This concept is also termed as undetectable = untransmittable (U=U).
2. Risk of Transferring
HIV virus transfers mainly through the transfer of body fluids including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. This occurs in an unprotected sexual cohabitation, through the use of infected needle sharing or while transferring to her baby from birth or by feeding them.
Routine testing will enable a patient to become more proactive and responsible towards his partner. Most of the time, patients with the HIV virus diagnosis can be made to cooperate with the healthcare provider for proper health care management in reducing the probability of viral transmission. ART aids in the decrease of the viral load within the body and thus aids in avoiding further spreading of the virus among individuals. The patient is treated and diagnosed sooner if diagnosed early; thus, it reduces the chances of spreading the virus.
3. Encouraging Safer Intimation Practices
Frequent testing for HIV will advocate for the use of safe sex. An individual who will be conscious about his or her HIV status once they know they will probably have a decision for the sexual matters in a healthy and knowledgeable way. For example, a sero-positive person may tend to observe the use of condoms as well as safer sex during the sexual act while other people will disclose it openly with others.
The review further offers an opportunity to educate the public on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, for the high-risk of HIV infection cases. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is also one of the measures that prevent HIV transmission and people having a higher risk factor recommend their use, given that they could be HIV positive.
4. Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission
Pregnancies, childbirth, and breastfeeding are transmissible channels through which the mother might transmit the virus to the child. But with proper testing and early diagnosis, a positive woman can get treatment to prevent transmitting HIV to her child. Most HIV-positive mothers, when they take their ART during pregnancy and childbirth, will give birth to an HIV-negative child.
There are recommendations for regular HIV testing, especially among pregnant women, in order to have the mother properly treated in a manner that minimizes the chance of MTCT. This is an important step toward the end of HIV transmission in the future generations.
5. Raise awareness and reduce stigma
The stigma associated with this virus remains a challenge in prevention from transmission. A large population does not undergo the tests as they are scared of judgments and discriminations that are related to HIV infections. Frequent testing lowers the stigma around the disease condition. The higher the numbers who go to test, the normalcy increases and so do low stigma.
This tends to normalize the conversations about HIV and sexual health, hence encouraging frequent HIV testing. The openness would give a higher probability in seeking testing and care without any form of discrimination. It opens the way for more effective prevention as people would get tested, seek treatment, and share with others information regarding HIV prevention.
6. Supports Public Health Programs
Routine HIV testing contributes to public health successes. Mass testing ensures that HIV infection prevalence can be monitored, it shows the spread of infection at different population levels, and provides the data that will guide interventions for high HIV transmission populations. For instance, results from HIV testing identify more vulnerable populations hence health providers target more the persons in these categories with necessary interventions and support services.
Testing also increases knowledge of HIV status among more people, meaning those who test negative will take measures to stay negative and those testing positive will be linked to care and treatment. This reduces the prevalence of HIV in communities, bringing the much bigger goal closer: ending the HIV epidemic.
7. Available Testing
In the past, testing for HIV was considered inconvenient or hard to reach. In the last couple of decades, new innovations in home testing kits, mobile clinics for testing, and testing at pharmacies have increased accessibility to HIV testing. It becomes easier for individuals to undergo tests regularly without needing appointments or visiting medical centres.
Making the HIV testing available and easy boosts people’s will to test more regularly, thereby curbing the spread of HIV. Click here to know more information HIV test
The best way to prevent HIV transmission is through regular testing. Early detection, along with continued and resolute treatment, will reduce the viral load to the point that people cannot easily transmit it to others. More importantly, testing promotes safer sexual practices, reduces stigma, and supports all public health efforts targeted at controlling the spread of HIV.
Whether in sexual activities, planning a family, or just maintaining good health, then HIV testing should be done regularly. Normalizing the act of testing, better access, and assistance in treatment will help reduce the rate of transmission worldwide and guarantee a future where HIV does not exist.
