Final answer:
HIV can be transmitted at any age through direct contact with infected body fluids, with additional risks of mother-to-child transmission for infants. Adolescents and adults can prevent infection by practicing safe sex and not sharing needles. Proper medication and practices can reduce transmission rates significantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
HIV and AIDS Transmission:
HIV can be transmitted through several methods, which pose risks at any age, including infants and adolescents. The primary ways HIV is transmitted include direct contact with infected body fluids such as blood, semen, or breast milk. Casual contact does not spread the virus.
Infants:
Mother-to-child transmission is a significant concern for infants. This can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or through breastfeeding. Vertical transmission, as this is known, can be drastically reduced by providing antiretroviral medications to the mother during pregnancy and to the infant after birth, as well as choosing cesarean delivery and substituting breastfeeding with bottle feeding if feasible.
Adolescents and Adults:
For adolescents and adults, HIV is often spread through unprotected sexual contact or the sharing of contaminated hypodermic needles. The use of protection such as condoms during sex, and ensuring needles are sterile and not shared, are important preventative measures. Regular screening of blood donations has largely eliminated the risk of transmission via blood transfusions. Given the global distribution of HIV, which ranges significantly with the highest prevalence seen in East and Southern Africa, understanding these transmission methods is vital for prevention.
Additionally, dispelling myths about HIV is crucial. It's important to know that HIV cannot be transmitted by individuals who are not infected and that the virus can spread through heterosexual contacts as well.