FAQ-Action Plan-HIV/AIDS

HIV and AIDS Information
Freqently asked questions

The reviewed, updated and extended HIV/AIDS Action Plan

How is HIV spread?
HIV is a caused by a virus that is spread by vaginal and anal sex and through contact with infected blood.

How do I avoid infection?
HIV can be prevented by practising safer sex (use of condoms) and safer injecting behaviour (do not share needles and other injecting equipment). It is not possible for HIV to pass through an intact latex condom. Using condoms and water-based lubricant in the correct way every time you have vaginal or anal sex reduces the risk of HIV transmission by around 95%.

If you inject drugs then you need to ensure that the equipment that you use has not been used by anyone before you.

How do I know if I have HIV infection?
You probably won't unless you are tested. The test can be arranged by your family doctor, family planning or the NZAF. The result of the test remains confidential. If you think that you may be at risk of infection you should have an HIV test.

What is the key message of the plan?
The key message is HIV/AIDS is still here and there is no cure, but it is preventable.
In New Zealand the theme for World AIDS Day is ‘it’s better to know what is safe and it’s better to know whether I’m positive or negative’. Overseas research indicates that as many as one-third of the people infected do not know they are HIV positive.

How will the plan work?
Continuing and expanded targeting of the groups most vulnerable to, and affected by, HIV/AIDS. These groups are men who have sex with men, sex workers, intravenous drug users, refugees and migrants from high-prevalence countries and people living with HIV/AIDS.

What is the total number of people who have been diagnosed as HIV positive in New Zealand?
Since records started being taken in 1985, 1608 men and 261 women have tested positive.

Worldwide there have been more than 42 million people diagnosed with HIV and 5 million of them were last year.

Who is most at risk?
In countries similar to New Zealand the rates of infection are increasing and this pattern looks to be repeating in New Zealand. In 2001 and 2002 in particular there is evidence of an increase in the number of new HIV infections amongst men who have sex with men (MSM). Men who have sex with men are still the single largest group at risk of HIV but other population groups need to be aware of the risks as well and how to access support and treatment.

Over 80 percent of heterosexually transmitted HIV infections were acquired overseas.

Why are the numbers increasing?
Australia and the UK are experiencing an increase in the number of men who have sex with men (MSM) being diagnosed with HIV as we are seeing in New Zealand. There is no agreement on the possible reasons for this. While obviously a change in behaviour, maybe as a consequence of less concern over the seriousness of HIV infection, could be important, it is appreciated that the rising number could result from a relative rise in the prevalence of HIV among MSM due to increased survival.

What is happening with HIV antenatal screening ?
In June 2005, the Ministry of Health announced New Zealand was moving to a policy of routinely offering antenatal HIV screening as part of standard antenatal care. This will be introduced nationally over a three-year period.

The purpose of this programme, once established, will be to reduce the likelihood of transmission of HIV from an HIV-infected mother to her baby. Preventive measures can reduce the chance of babies becoming infected from approximately 25 percent to less than 2 percent.

The National Screening Unit has responsibility for the development of a national programme for antenatal HIV screening and has established a National Antenatal HIV Implementation Advisory Group (NAHSIAG) to assist with the development of policy, protocols and national quality and policy standards for the effective operation of a national programme.

Related information:

Media release 30 November 2003 - HIV/AIDS Action Plan reviewed, updated and extended

HIV/AIDS Action Plan: Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy (December 2003)

Sexual and Reproductive Health: A Resource Book (December 2003)

Page last updated: 12 December 2005