Abstinence

Refraining from something. Refraining from sex, for example. Not having sex (sexual abstinence).

Accountability

Responsibility to someone or for some activity. When talking about international development and aid, “accountability” often means that organizations must be able to show exactly what the money raised has been spent on.

Advocacy

Asking for or arguing for something, usually from key decision makers. For example, asking the government to give more money for children.

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Anonymous testing

Testing in which no name is asked or given so that no one knows the identity of the person being tested.

Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs)

HIV is an uncommon type of virus called a retrovirus, and drugs developed for those infected with HIV are known as anti-retrovirals or ARVs.

Anti-retroviral therapy (ART)

A course of therapy for people infected with HIV/AIDS, using anti-retroviral drugs.

Asymptomatic

Showing no outward sign of infection, not feeling sick.

AZT

Zidovudine, a medicine which helps the body strengthen the immune system and can improve the health of a person infected with HIV and/or living with AIDS.

Baby

An HIV infected pregnant woman can transmit HIV to her fetus before its birth and to her infant(s) during birth or in breastfeeding. Not all babies born to HIV-positive mothers will be HIV infected. When the mothers take medication, such as AZT, the virus is passed on to the baby only about 10 percent of the time.

Bisexual

Physical and romantic attraction to people of each gender.

Blood

Blood can transmit HIV. The Food and Drug Administration, a government organization, works with blood banks to ensure that the blood used in hospitals and other medical situations is safe.

Campaigning

Campaigning is getting people to join together to take action.

Capacity

The ability of individuals, organizations and societies to do things. In a development context, “capacity development” refers to investment in people, institutions and practices that will, together, enable that country to achieve its development objectives.

CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the U.S. government agency primarily tasked to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States.

Condom

A thin rubber covering that a man can wear on his penis during sex to prevent a woman becoming pregnant or to protect him or his partner against sexually transmitted infections.

Confidential testing

Testing in which people must give a name but the information is kept secret (confidential).

Epidemic

The rapid and extensive spreading of a disease which affects many individuals in an area or a population at the same time

Extended family

An extended family is a family unit which includes grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts and uncles etc. in addition to parents and children.

Heterosexual

Physical and romantic attraction to people of the opposite gender.

Homosexual

Physical and romantic attraction to people of the same gender.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Humanitarian aid

Designed to rapidly reduce human suffering, this is temporary assistance comprising disaster relief, food aid, refugee relief and disaster preparedness. It generally involves the provision of material aid, finance and advice to save and preserve lives during emergency situations and the immediate post-emergency rehabilitation.

Hygiene

The science of keeping you healthy, particularly by means of sanitary practices such as washing your hands after using a toilet or latrine and before you handle food.

Immune system

A system in the body that fights and kills bacteria, viruses, and foreign cells and which is weakened by HIV.

Immunization

If a person is immunized, they are given protection against a particular disease by introducing special substances into the body, often through an injection.

Infectious disease

A disease that is caused by infection; HIV is caused by infection with a virus, the human immunodeficiency virus.

Injection drug use

Taking drugs for non-medical purposes by injecting them under the skin or into a vein with a needle and syringe; using needles that have previously been used by other people can transmit HIV.

Legislation

Legislation is a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament.

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)

NGOs are private non-profit making bodies, active in development work. To qualify for official support UK NGOs must be registered charities.

Orphan

A child whose mother and/or father has died.

Persecution

To treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a period of time.

PMTCT

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Without prevention measures, about 35 per cent of children born to HIV-positive women will contract the virus.

Poverty

Having little or no money and few or no material possessions.

Prevalent

Existing very commonly or happening frequently.

Refuge

A place which gives protection or shelter from danger, trouble, unhappiness etc. A safe place.

STD

Sexually transmitted disease.

STI

Sexually transmitted infection, another commonly used acronym for STD.

A sexually transmitted infection is one which people become infected with during sexual activity. HIV is a sexually transmitted infection.

Transparency

The full, accurate, and timely disclosure of information.

United Nations (The UN)

The “United Nations” is an organisation of independent states that promotes peace and international co-operation and promotes security and economic development. UNICEF is part of the UN family.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS advocates for global action on the epidemic. It works to strengthen and support an expanded response aimed at preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS, and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.

Undetectable

Status of some PLWHs whose viral level has dropped so much that the virus is undetectable in their blood; the person is still living with HIV (like Magic Johnson, for example).

Vaccine

A medicine that gives you a mild form of a disease, stimulating your immune system so that it will resist the disease in the future.

Victim

The word victim (as in "AIDS victim" or "innocent victim") is a word that many people with HIV/AIDS find demeaning. More acceptable terms are PLWH for Person Living with HIV and PLWA for Person Living with AIDS.

World Health Organization

Established in 1948, WHO is the UN’s specialised agency for health. WHO’s objective is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health – the physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO is governed by 192 member states, through the World Health Assembly.