AIDS. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Ante-natal. the time between pregnancy and birth when a woman needs good care to protect her health and the baby’s health.
Anti-retrovirals. special drugs that slow the reproduction and spread of HIV.
Bleach. a strong chemical used in cleaning which can kill HIV
blood transfusion a way to replace blood lost as a result of accident, illness or an operation with healthy blood donated by another person
circumcise to cut away unwanted skin from the sexual organs of boys or girls
community people living in one local area, often with the same culture and similar interests
condom a fine rubber covering worn over the penis during sex to prevent pregnancy or infection
development a process of change that may lead to improvements in social, financial and spiritual wellbeing and increased confidence
empowerment a gradual process in which people grow in self-confidence and feel more able to choose their own priorities and way forward
formula milk powdered milk specially made for feeding young babies
gender the social differences between men and women, or boys and girls that are learned (rather than the sexual differences which are biological)
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
nausea the unpleasant feeling of being about to vomit
NGO a non-governmental organisation managed independently of government
orphan a child whose parent or parents have died
ownership when people take control and accept responsibility for issues that affect their own development
participants people taking part in any kind of activity
participation involving people in the decisions and processes that affect their lives
penis the male sex organ, also used to pass urine
pneumonia a serious chest infection
poverty a situation where there are not enough resources to maintain an adequate standard of life
rape forcing a person to have sex against their wishes
relish a side dish of tasty or spicy food which is eaten with the staple food to add flavour and nutritional value
semen bodily fluid produced by a man during sexual relations
sex in this book, sex means penetrative sexual activity
vagina the soft fleshy passage or opening in a woman used for sexual relations and through which babies are born
‘window period’ the three-month period immediately after infection with HIV when the virus has not yet multiplied sufficiently within the body to be detected by special HIV tests