You can make a difference! Having open and regular conversation about HIV/AIDS can help make these conversations less awkward and reduce the stigma associated with HIV. We can stop HIV one conversation at a time. As your conversations continue, keep in mind:
Talking about preventing HIV may be uncomfortable at first, but it will get easier with time and practice. The key is to keep the conversation going. Saying that you feel awkward can help relieve tension you both may be feeling. Use positive body language, try to stay relaxed, keep eye contact and nod your head in agreement with something that the other person is saying.
Tune in and listen carefully to what the other person might have to say. Use your conversation as an opportunity to figure out anything that might prevent him or her from protecting themselves against HIV. Correct any myths about HIV by sharing the facts.
Be respectful of the other person’s opinions. If the person does not know accurate facts about HIV, offer to give him or her an HIV/AIDS fact sheet or review the facts on a good website. To learn more facts about HIV go to Learn About HIV or click to learn more about the impact of HIV among Hispanics/Latinos.
Do share the facts about HIV/AIDS but don’t lecture.
Ask questions about HIV facts such as “Did you know that HIV is mainly spread by sex and cannot be transmitted by kissing, sharing food or going to the bathroom?” or “what have you heard about HIV/AIDS and how the virus is passed from one person to another?” Open-ended questions (ones that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or no”) can engage your family member and keep your conversation going.
Be honest and real. You may not know all the answers, but you can offer to learn about them together.
