What is the primary mode of HIV transmission?

• A. Through unprotected sexual contact, blood exposure (needles/shares), perinatal (during pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding).
• B. Airborne transmission.
• C. Casual contact.
• D. Waterborne.

Answer: (A)

HIV spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and blood, not through the air or ordinary casual contact. The main routes are unprotected sexual contact, exposure to infected blood (such as sharing needles or syringes), and perinatal transmission during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. In each case, the virus has a way to enter the body: sexual contact brings the virus into mucous membranes, blood exposure allows direct blood-to-blood transfer, and a fetus or newborn can become infected through the placenta or breast milk.

Airborne transmission, casual contact, and water exposure do not transmit HIV. The virus does not travel through the air in typical conditions, and ordinary close contact like hugging or sharing utensils does not spread it. HIV also does not survive well in water or outside the body, so transmission via water is not a concern.