Area of study HIV Transmission
Exploring:
• How HIV is transmitted
•How young people can keep themselves safe
•Why people living with HIV believed
‘It wouldn’t happen to me’
Many myths still exist about how HIV is transmitted.
However, people often still don’t think that they
personally are at risk. The HIV ‘Always Hear’
stories provide real-life examples of how people
contracted HIV and how, before being infected,
they didn’t think they were at risk.
Using these resources, young people can explore
how HIV is transmitted, behaviours relating to
transmission and how this affects them personally
in Scotland, and others internationally.
Health & Wellbeing
Experiences and Outcomes
Physical Wellbeing
I am developing an understanding of the human
body and can use this knowledge to maintain and
improve my wellbeing and health.
HWB 4-15a
I am learning to assess and manage risk, to protect
myself and others and to reduce the potential for
harm when possible.
HWB 4-16a
Substance Misuse
After assessing options and the consequences
of my decisions, I can identify safe and unsafe
behaviours and actions.
HWB 3-41a / 4-41a
I understand the impact that ongoing misuse of
substances can have on a person’s health, future
life choices and options.
HWB 3-43a / 4-43a
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS / HIV TRANSMISSION
Challenges / Learning Opportunities
Interdisciplinary Study
Useful Resources
Health & Wellbeing
1st lesson – Science
Health & Wellbeing
Show the film of Sarah’s story to the class or group.
Explore how the human body defends itself against
disease and how viruses affect the body.
SCN 3-13c
SCN4-12a
www.choicesforlifeonline.org
for further information for young people about drugs.
2nd lesson – Health & Wellbeing
www.yourstoryyourscript.co.uk
for a film of how HIV affects the human body.
HIV – Fact or Fiction Quiz.
Photocopy or print off the quiz questions and the ‘fact
or fiction’ signs. Give one set of signs to each young
person. Ask them to hold up the relevant sign in
answer to the questions you ask to indicate whether
they believe the statement to be fact or fiction.
Read the answer out after each question and each
young person should keep a track of their scores.
Clarify that HIV in Scotland can only be transmitted
through unprotected sex, sharing needles, during
pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Ask the young people to review the print out
of Desmond’s story and ask them to consider:
•Whether Desmond thought he was at risk of
contracting HIV
•What alternative behaviours may have meant
he didn’t contract HIV
•What implications being HIV positive has had
on his life and any future choices
•Whether young people think they might be at
risk at some point in their lives of contracting HIV
This could be done as a group activity, with each group
reviewing the story and reporting back to the others.
Explore how HIV is contracted and behaviours
around transmission of HIV.
3rd lesson – Social Studies
Explore health inequalities both in the UK
and internationally, look particularly at HIV,
and how cultural behaviours influence HIV
transmission. Make suggestions for addressing
these health inequalities.
Compare support available to people living with HIV
in a developing country to that available in Scotland.
SOC 3-11a SOC 3-15a SOC 3-16a SOC 4-11c SOC 4-16b
Sciences
Social Studies
www.unaids.org
for international information on HIV
Preparatory resources and additional links
www.HIVAlwaysHear.org