A woman with HIV is using social media to encourage people to see it “like any other health condition”.
Having HIV is Like Any Other Health Condition – Victoria Roscow was diagnosed with HIV when she was nine-weeks-pregnant and thought it was a “death sentence”.
The 29-year-old said she contracted the virus from unprotected sex with a previous partner, but her husband and son were both HIV-negative.
She now shares her experience on social media and hopes to educate people about the realities of living with HIV.
“It was like a video diary for myself more than anything, to come to terms with my diagnosis by reaffirming the facts around living with HIV,” Ms Roscow, from Blackburn, told BBC Breakfast.
“It’s helped me become comfortable with it and be very accepting of it.
“I think a lot of people with HIV struggle with accepting their diagnoses and being their most authentic self.
“So I’m hoping that by being so open with my videos that I can help people be themselves with it and help it not define them.”
Ms Roscow said when she was diagnosed her first thought was “I’m going to die.”
But antiviral medication means she will live a normal life with a normal life expectancy.
It also stops her husband and son from contracting the virus.