HIV/AIDS in the United States

1. The current most at risk population, for contracting HIV in the United States of America, is African-American women.

2. Of women, those under the age of 34 are most at risk for contracting HIV.

3. HIV/AIDS is a common killer, only second to heart disease and cancer.

4. For women the most common routes of transmission are: unprotected sex with an HIV+ man, and intravenous drug use (sharing infected needles).

5. HIV+ women who are pregnant can transmit HIV to the fetus, however there are medications that can be taken to lower the risk. HIV can also be transmitted through breast-feeding.

Resources:

Information on prevention challenges specific to women:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/challenges.htm

Information for women of color:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/minority/africanamerican/hiv.cfm

Information on what women can do to protect themselves:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/protection.htm

Information on HIV for women with same-sex partners:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets/wsw.htm

Information on HIV for transwomen (click on slide link):
http://www.aidsetc.org/aidsetc?page=cf-trans-te

Information on surveillance of HIV in U.S. including rates by state:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/slides/women/index.htm