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HIV/STD Counseling

Note:  This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such materials, please return to the homepage. Kansas HIV/AIDS Program

The focus and strategies of our HIV and Sexually Transmitted Disease prevention efforts continue to change in response to shifting needs of our community. Simply stated, the goal of this program is to reduce the spread of HIV and STD infection in Cowley County. To accomplish this goal, the health department HIV/STD program contracts with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to implement front line HIV/STD prevention and risk reduction interventions (e.g., testing, counseling and education). These interventions target populations experiencing the highest number and rates of infection, and are designed to be age/gender appropriate, linguistically specific, and culturally sensitive. Interventions are organized around 1) helping individuals, groups, or social networks identify and change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that contribute to the transmission of HIV and STD’s; 2) decreasing anxiety about sexually transmitted diseases and misconceptions about transmission; and 3) disseminating HIV / STD prevention and risk reduction information in a manner that is personally meaningful and facilitates the reduction of HIV/STD transmission. The KDHE oversees the activities and evaluates the effectiveness of each HIV prevention contractors in the State of Kansas.

The primary goal of our program is to provide HIV / STD prevention counseling, testing, referral, and partner notification services for any Kansan who may be STD or  HIV-infected and/or engaging in behaviors that cause them to be at risk for contracting STD’s or HIV. In the State of Kansas, the law requires the availability of anonymous (no name/personal identifiers) testing throughout the state. Following this charge, KDHE has made available anonymous testing at counseling and testing sites that send specimens to the State Lab.

Should you get tested for HIV?

The following are behaviors that increase your chances of getting HIV. If you answer yes to any of them, you should definitely get an HIV test. If you continue with any of these behaviors, you should be tested every year. Talk to a health care provider about an HIV testing schedule that is right for you.

  • Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, works) with others?
  • Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners?
  • Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
  • Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), like syphilis?
  • Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions?

If you have had sex with someone whose history of sex partners and/or drug use is unknown to you or if you or your partner has had many sex partners, then you have more of a chance of being infected with HIV. Both you and your new partner should get tested for HIV, and learn the results, before having sex for the first time.

For women who plan to become pregnant, testing is even more important. If a woman is infected with HIV, medical care and certain drugs given during pregnancy can lower the chance of passing HIV to her baby. All women who are pregnant should be tested during each pregnancy.