Which of the following is a significant risk factor for acquiring HIV infection?

Appeared in: AIIMS CRE 2025

Explanation

HIV is primarily transmitted through specific bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk.
Unprotected sexual intercourse is the most dominant mode of HIV transmission worldwide, accounting for more than 75% of all cases.
During sexual contact, the virus can enter the body through mucous membranes or damaged tissue, leading to infection.

Option A: While sharing razors carries a theoretical risk of blood-borne transmission if contaminated blood enters a cut, it is an extremely rare event and not considered a primary or significant route of HIV transmission.
Option B: Extensive studies have shown that HIV is not transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes or ticks. The virus cannot survive or replicate within an insect.
Option C: HIV is not transmitted through casual social contact like hugging, shaking hands, sharing food, or using the same toilet. The virus is fragile and does not survive long outside the body.

Visual 1: Infographic: A chart illustrating the primary modes of HIV transmission (sexual contact, parenteral, mother-to-child) and their relative risk levels, while also listing activities that do not transmit the virus (casual contact, insect bites).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Modes of HIV transmission and associated risk factors helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a vital role in patient education on safe sex practices, including consistent condom use, to prevent HIV transmission.
Promoting routine HIV testing and counseling is a key nursing responsibility, especially for at-risk populations, to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
Educating patients about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is crucial for preventing HIV acquisition in high-risk individuals.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question, which asks for the 'significant risk factor' for acquiring HIV.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of infectious disease transmission.
Eliminate options that are known to pose no risk. Casual contact and insect bites are well-documented as non-transmission routes for HIV.
Compare the remaining options. Sharing a razor carries a theoretical risk of blood contact but is extremely rare and not a primary mode of spread.
Recognize that unprotected sexual intercourse is the most common and direct route for the exchange of bodily fluids that transmit HIV.
Conclude that unprotected sexual intercourse is the most significant risk factor among the choices.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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