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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Antiretroviral (ARV) / Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
Full name: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), a range of potent drug combinations or "cocktails" which suppress the growth of the HIV retrovirus. This lifesaving drug treatment is the only proven method of controlling HIV, however it requires rigorous adherence to prevent drug resistance developing and can cause severe side effects; it is not an easy treatment to take.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) &
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
HIV is a retrovirus that can be transmitted through bodily fluids like blood and semen. The most common methods of transmission are sexual intercourse, contaminated needles or blood transfusions and from an HIV positve mother to her baby during birth or breastfeeding. HIV infects and kills the body's "helper T cells" which form its main defense against illness. This process can be slow and an infected person may look and feel well for many years and may not realise that they are infected. As their immune system weakens they become more vulnerable to illness and develop AIDS. AIDS is the term used to describe advanced HIV infection, which generally occurs with the T-cell count falls below 200 and is characterised by the appearance of opportunistic infections such as TB and pneumonia.
Injecting Drug User (IDU)
A person who uses a drug, such as heroin, that is administered with a needle and syringe.
Men who have Sex with Men (MSM)
Men who engage in same-gender sexual activity. This includes, but is not limited to, men that self-identify as gay or bisexual.
Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
An orphan is a child who has no surviving parent caring for him or her after one of them has died. Vulnerable children are defined as those whose survival or development may be at risk due to a particular situation which prevents the fulfilment of their rights. Lack of care, love, shelter, education, nutrition and psychosocial support are important elements that increase children’s vulnerability. Whilst the definition makes no reference to the causes of orphanhood and vulnerability, in EJAF supported projects these are overwhelmingly as a result of HIV/AIDS.
Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT)
If an HIV-positive woman becomes pregnant, there is a 35% chance that she will transmit the virus to her child if no preventative action is taken. This can be through pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. PMTCT describes a range of measures that can reduce this risk including: taking antiretroviral drugs - which can halve the chance of passing HIV to a baby; time limited or replacement breastfeeding - formula feeding negates the risk of HIV transmission by breastfeeding, but is not always the safest option where there is limited access to clean water or sterilised bottles. Recommendations on this will depend on circumstances and environment.
Sex Worker
Traditionally refers to someone (male or female) who earns money by providing sexual services. May also cover transactional sex work, where sexual services are provided in exchange for goods or other services.
Transgender
Someone whose identity or appearance differs from traditional expectations of how men or women should look and act. This inludes transexuals who undergo medical treatment to physically change gender. However, the majority of trangender people simply adopt certain non-stereotypical masculine or feminine gender characteristics.