CDC: Women and HIV

Early on, the epidemic, HIV infection and AIDS were diagnosed for relatively few women and female adolescents (although we know now that many women were infected with HIV through injection drug use but that their infections were not diagnosed).

Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Women of color are especially affected by HIV infection and AIDS. In 2004 (the most recent year for which data are available), HIV infection was

the leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25-34 years

the 3rd leading cause of death for black women aged 35-44 years

the 4th leading cause of death for black women aged 45-54 years

the 4th leading cause of death for Hispanic women aged 35-44years

In the same year, HIV infection was the 5th leading cause of death among all women aged 35-44 years and the 6th leading cause of death among all women aged 25-34 years. The only diseases causing more deaths of women were cancer and heart disease.

STATISTICS

HIV/AIDS in 2005

(The following bullets are based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting)

HIV/AIDS was diagnosed for an estimated 9,708 women

High-risk heterosexual contact was the source of 80% of these newly diagnosed infections

Women accounted for 26% of the estimated 37,163 diagnoses for adults and adolescents

Of the 126,964 women living with HIV/AIDS, 64% were black, 19% were white, 15% were Hispanic, 1% were Asian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% were American Indian or Alaska Native.

The number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses among female adults or adolescents decreased from 11,941 in 2001 to 9,708 in 2005

According to a recent CDC study of more than 19,500 patients with HIV in 10 US cities, women were slightly less likely than men to receive prescriptions for the most effective treatments for HIV infection

RISK FACTORS AND BARRIERS

Younger Age

For women of all races and ethnicities, the largest number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses during recent years was for women aged 15-39. From 2001 through 2004, the number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses for women aged 15-39 decreased for white, black, and Hispanic women. There was an increase in the number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses during this period for Asian and Pacific Islander women and for American Indian and Alaska Native women aged 15-39.

Lack of Recognition of Partner's Risk Factors

Some women may be unaware of their male partner's risk factors for HIV infection (such as unprotected sex with multiple partners, sex with men, or injection drug use). Men who engage in sex both with men and women can acquire HIV from a male partner and then transmit the virus to female partners.

Multiple Risk Factors

Some women infected with HIV report more than 1 risk factor, highlighting the overlap in risk factors such as inequality in relationships, socioeconomic stresses, substance abuse, and psychological issues. For example, in the North Carolina study of HIV infection in black women, the participants most commonly reported that that their reasons for risky behavior were financial dependence on male partners, feeling invincible, low self-esteem coupled with the need to feel loved by a male figure, and alcohol and drug use.