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• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 20-30 >> Interview 49 >> He did not gain the knowledge and skills he needed to have safe sex.

Clint progressed to Aids defining illnesses relatively quickly. Fortunately, combination therapy had come in by then, and his original combination (Combivir, efavirenz and nelfinavir) is still effective today.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 23 >> Coming from a country where sex and HIV was not discussed meant that he misinterpreted advice about safe sex. (Read by an actor.)

He was shocked when he found out he was actually infected with HIV, and he wanted to kill himself. Since his viral load has reduced to undetectable with medication (currently emtricitabine, efavirenz, tenofovir), he has felt much better physically and psychologically. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 24 >> Found it easy to introduce condoms into his sex life with his wife.

At one stage, he was very unwell and his CD4 cells were as low as 200. Since drug rehabilitation in the Russian Exodus Christian charity, he has been able to get his life back on track and his CD4 cells are now 900.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 37 >> Talks about the answer he came up with when he prayed to God to explain why he had got HIV. (Read by an actor.)

He feels that he is a stronger person because of his experience with HIV. He is not currently on medication and had 680 CD4 cells. He now takes care of himself through exercise and diet. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 37 >> He mistakenly believed himself to be HIV negative and so it upset him when his partner insisted on condoms. (Read by an actor.)

He feels that he is a stronger person because of his experience with HIV. He is not currently on medication and had 680 CD4 cells. He now takes care of himself through exercise and diet. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 12 >> While they always had safe sex, using condoms felt like missing out on a reward.

He suffered from severe diarrhoea and peripheral neuropathy while taking an earlier combination of anti-HIV drugs, but he currently takes nelfinavir, 3TC and abacavir with few side effects. He has had to cope with HIV-related illness, depression and mania at various times in his life.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 51 >> He feels his partner is worried about becoming infected with HIV and he finds it hard to enjoy sex. (Read by an actor.)

His immigration status was uncertain at the time of the interview. His approach to HIV includes exercise, good food and support groups. He tells his sexual partners about his HIV and he is also very careful to have safe sex. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 03 >> Although his HIV negative partners said they had no problems with HIV, HIV did create problems.

Has slowly built up his strength since his illness, becoming highly expert in HIV. He did extensive self-development work on himself. He has 870 CD4 cells and currently takes nevirapine, abacavir, and lamivudine with minimal side effects.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 14 >> It was difficult to convince his HIV negative partner that he should use condoms for anal sex.

He believes dealing with multiple difficulties in his life like HIV has made him stronger. He takes Fosamprenavir, Ritonavir, Tenofovir and Emtricitabine (6 tablets once in the evening) with few side effects.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 51 >> He told his partner about his HIV and he uses three condoms to be extra safe*. (Read by an actor.)

His immigration status was uncertain at the time of the interview. His approach to HIV includes exercise, good food and support groups. He tells his sexual partners about his HIV and he is also very careful to have safe sex. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 41-45 >> Interview 30 >> Sometimes people provide excuses to use condoms in relationships rather than disclose their HIV status. (Read by an actor.)

He was admitted to hospital with a high temperature and headaches where he was diagnosed with HIV. He negotiated his current treatment regime with his doctor (Kaletra and efavirenz), (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 41-45 >> Interview 45 >> She told her partner they must use condoms because she had TB. (Read by an actor.)

She was staying with her sister when she was diagnosed. Her sister mistreated her because of her HIV. Social groups, courses and Christianity have contributed to her wellbeing and empowerment. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 56-65 >> Interview 25 >> His thoughts on disclosure of HIV status in casual sex are shifting.

He currently takes didanosine, ritonavir, lamivudine and saquinavir for HIV. He has suffered from non-painful peripheral neuropathy and some lipodystrophy. With treatment, he now looks forward to a long retirement.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 15 >> He met a man who seemed to avoid him because of his HIV status. (Read by an actor.)

He is determined not to let HIV rule his life. He takes Sustiva/Combivir with no current side effects. He exercises and is careful about his diet to stay healthy. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 05 >> One of his partners did not want to use condoms for anal sex because he thought he either already had HIV or would get HIV. (Read by an actor.)

His current T cells are 600 and he is not on anti-HIV medication. He is happy to be alive now, does voluntary work (non-HIV) and training courses. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 28 >> Believes that anal sex without condoms between HIV positive men can have serious health consequences.

He currently has an undetectable viral load and about 900 CD4 cells. He did not respond well to earlier regimes, but is now doing well on 'salvage therapy,' although his medication has numerous side-effects.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 20-30 >> Interview 27 >> He thinks he became infected with HIV at a time when he was having emotional problems. (Read by an actor.)

He currently has a viral load of about 160,000 and 360 CD cells, and has not yet begun anti-HIV medication. His diagnosis has been a catalyst in facing up to many issues in his life. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 05 >> One of his partners did not want to use condoms for anal sex because he thought he either already had HIV or would get HIV. (Read by an actor.)

His current T cells are 600 and he is not on anti-HIV medication. He is happy to be alive now, does voluntary work (non-HIV) and training courses. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 21 >> He suddenly remembered a drunken incident of unsafe sex just before his seroconversion illness. (Read by an actor.)

Although he was very ill with HIV, he was determined not to become a victim and 'end up on the scrap heap.' He lives a healthy and physically active life on combination therapies (nevirapine and Combivir). (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 56-65 >> Interview 25 >> He assumed he had got HIV from his long-term partner and so had unprotected sex with a HIV positive man.

He currently takes didanosine, ritonavir, lamivudine and saquinavir for HIV. He has suffered from non-painful peripheral neuropathy and some lipodystrophy. With treatment, he now looks forward to a long retirement.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 12 >> Counselling validated the anger he had previously skipped over, and he realised the seductiveness of some feelings.

He suffered from severe diarrhoea and peripheral neuropathy while taking an earlier combination of anti-HIV drugs, but he currently takes nelfinavir, 3TC and abacavir with few side effects. He has had to cope with HIV-related illness, depression and mania at various times in his life.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 15 >> His partner tested positive with HIV so he prepared himself for being positive also. (Read by an actor.)

He is determined not to let HIV rule his life. He takes Sustiva/Combivir with no current side effects. He exercises and is careful about his diet to stay healthy. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 19 >> Talks about the risk of getting HIV in unsafe sex.

Although medically retired, he is very active and works voluntarily. He is currently on lopinavir, 3TC, abacavir, ddI and tenofovir, with 1700 viral copies. Side-effects have included lipodystrophy.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 37 >> Talks about the answer he came up with when he prayed to God to explain why he had got HIV. (Read by an actor.)

He feels that he is a stronger person because of his experience with HIV. He is not currently on medication and had 680 CD4 cells. He now takes care of himself through exercise and diet. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)