For a long time, waist beads were originally associated with African women but presently, they have gained popularity with women from western countries. Today, in both African and western countries, waist beads are used for both aesthetics and practical reasons. Apart from the reasons like fashion, and seduction, there are other interesting reasons why a woman will wear waist beads and they include that; she may be using them to gauge changes in her weight. 

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Rather than step on a scale, women can use waist beads to stay aware of any weight gain or loss in the abdomen. Because these beads don't stretch, they may sit higher up the waist or feel tighter if a person gains weight. On the other hand, if a woman loses weight, the waist beads will fall further down the hips or feel loose. Unlike the numbers on a scale, waist beads are more compatible with body positivity. Women of all sizes and shapes can comfortably wear waist beads to adorn their bodies. Because times have changed, there are adjustable waist beads that can fit differently in case of changes like bloating. 

Another interesting reason why women wear beads is that in some African countries, waist beads are associated with maturity. This means that some women may wear these beads to announce their growth and transition in life. For instance, in some west African countries' traditions, mothers tie a pair of waist beads onto their daughters during their first menstruation to symbolize their passage into womanhood. In the case of transition, the waist bead a girl wears during puberty will differ from the beads she wears after her first child. Waist beads may also help with posture. They can serve as a reminder to sit up straighter and relax stomach muscles. 

It is imperative that you are aware of how to protect yourself and your partner from the rising rates of a range of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), since the rates of these infections are currently on the rise. This is especially true among adolescents. HIV is one example of such an infection (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

According to healthline, HIV is a virus that compromises the immune system of the human body (which works to keep you healthy and disease-free). If you do not obtain HIV treatment, the virus will make it extremely simple for bacteria, viruses, fungus, and even some malignancies to assault your body. As a result, you will become very unwell very quickly. However, if diagnosed early and given the appropriate treatment, persons who have HIV have the potential to live long and healthy lives.

How is it that people get HIV?

Although HIV is communicable, the vast majority of the things you do in a day do not put you at risk of passing it on to others. There are four prerequisites that need to be satisfied before the HIV virus can spread from one person to another.

1. There must be body fluids in which HIV can grow, such as sperm, blood, vaginal fluids, or breast milk. This means that HIV can spread from person to person. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is unable to reproduce in the open air, in areas of the body with a high acid content (like the stomach or bladder), or in areas of the body that have antimicrobial defenses (such as the mouth).

2. There must be a way for the disease to be passed on, such as through specific sexual behaviors, the use of needles that have been shared, occupational exposure, or transmission from mother to child.

 

3. There must be sufficient levels of virus in the bodily fluids for infection to take place. Because the level of virus in saliva, perspiration, and tears is regarded insufficient for infection, these body fluids are not potential sources of the virus.

4. There must be a route for the virus to enter your body and infect susceptible cells; this can happen when the skin is broken or penetrated, when mucosal tissues are absorbed, or both of these things can happen. HIV is unable to pass through healthy skin.

What About the Possibility of HIV Transmission Via Kissing?

Because of the presence of antibodies and enzymes that occur naturally in saliva, HIV is unable to infect new cells and hence cannot be passed on to other people through kissing. This is evidenced by the fact that HIV cannot be transmitted to other people. Therefore, kissing, even "French" kissing or kissing with an open mouth, will not transmit HIV.

However, HIV can be transmitted by blood. An open-mouth kiss may result in the transfer of the HIV virus in the extremely unlikely event when an HIV-positive person has blood in or near their lips and the person receiving the kiss also has an actively bleeding wound in their mouth (such as bleeding gums, wounds, or open sores).

Further, the following are not known sources of HIV transmission:

being bitten by a bug, such as a mosquito, tick, or another type of insect. Insects cannot become infected, and the virus is not present in the saliva of infected insects.