Dealing With It+

Kyla was only 23 years old when she found out she was HIV positive.

"My family was worried as they saw me losing a lot of weight and sleep[ing] for hours. They thought I was stressed because of school work, but as I developed a rash all over my body, they suspected something was wrong," said the young girl bursting into tears.

At a gynecological check up, Kyla discovered she had Human Papilloma Virus, which may cause cervical cancer if left untreated. Her primary care physician insisted she also be tested for HIV. The young student was hesitant; she ?argued with her doctor, because she was in a long-term relationship and had never been promiscuous.

When the results came back, Kyla was shocked: she was not only positive for HIV, but had developed AIDS. Her life became a constant battle against death.

Too many times young students think of themselves as being immune to this horrendous plague. However, HIV does not discriminate color, income, age, sex or religion: no one is immune.

Over the last year alone, The Centers for Disease Control reported 56,000 new infections in this country, of which 35 percent are heterosexual ?individuals below the age of 40. They estimated that 20 percent of those that have contracted HIV still don't know their status.

Many healthcare professionals wonder why HIV prevention is failing miserably among young people and if there is a way to prevent behaviors leading to the infection.

The Fullerton College Health Center conducted a survey regarding sexually transmitted diseases in spring 2007. Of the 1,000 students?surveyed, 20.7 percent admitted to having had unprotected sex while being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Only 32 percent of the students in the survey said they that they had been tested for HIV, which means 70 percent of the students might not know their status.

"Students don't think it can happen to them," said FC Health Educator Deanna Farsakh. "They see the statistics and notice that the majority of infections are among the gay ?community and they conclude it doesn't affect them."

According to the CDC report the second group with the highest infection rate is no longer drug users, but the very average heterosexual community.

Farsakh strives to inform FC students about the risks by going class by class, and organizing events like the ?recent World AIDS Day, happening annually in the first week of December. She says HIV tests are available for $10 at the Health Center. In addition, testing is free ?during World AIDS Day in December, and on other events such as "Sexual Responsibility Month" in February.

A tendency among many students that rush into intercourse is that they take the condom off at the second or third sexual encounter, with the idea that the other person is safe because he or she 'looks healthy.' Nevertheless, past sexual behaviors, or partners, are not always known by the current boyfriend or girlfriend. The only secure way to find out one's own status is to take a simple test which needs to be repeated 4 to 6 months later. Many students feel awkward about revealing to their current love their previous partners, because they don't want to jeopardize what they have.

"It's such a sensitive issue" Farsakh said "But if you don't communicate with your boyfriend or girlfriend, what kind of intimacy and trust can you build in the relationship?"

This inability to disclose previous partners or behaviors to the current significant other is one of the major obstacles to an effective prevention.

"It's easier for most couples to talk about money in the relationship than to talk about sex" said Dr. Ardis Moe, Associate Professor of Medicine at the UCLA center for AIDS research and education.

Moe has seen too many patients who fell victim to HIV because of fear and misinformation. Her daily mission is to save their lives, but her biggest concern is the many conflicting messages young people get about sex.

"Agencies, Churches, and Government need to work together to implement a common prevention plan", Moe said "The majority of people are sexually active at age sixteen. We need to distribute condoms everywhere"

If students can't be prevented fråom having sex, then better information on how to protect themselves against diseases is needed.

People like Kyla paid too high a price for not being aware of risks. The cost of not knowing is too high, but the $10 FC students pay for a test at the Health Center might be the best life investment they will ever make. T