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| FACT SHEET |
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HIV, or human immunodeficiency
virus, is an infectious agent that causes
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),
a disease that leaves a person vulnerable
to life-threatening infections. HIV transmission
occurs when a person is exposed to body
fluids infected with the virus, such
as blood, semen, vaginal secretions,
and breast milk. |
| The primary
modes of HIV transmission are sexual relations
with an infected person; sharing hypodermic
needles or accidental pricking by a needle
contaminated with infected blood; and transfer
of the virus from an infected mother to
her baby during pregnancy, childbirth,
or through breast-feeding. In the United
States , HIV and AIDS remains a significant
cause of illness, disability, and death
among virtually every racial and ethnic
population, every age group, and every
socioeconomic group. |
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INCIDENCE |
- About 850,000-950,000 United States
residents are living with HIV infection,
one quarter of whom are unaware of their
infection
- Approximately 40,000 new HIV infections
occur each year in the United States,
and approximately 5 million new HIV cases
occur each year worldwide (about 70%
among men and 30% among women--half are
younger than 25 years of age).
- Of new infections among men in the
United States, Center for Disease Control
(CDC) estimates that approximately 60%
of men were infected through homosexual
sex, 25% through injection drug use,
and 15% through heterosexual sex (approximately
50% are African Americans, 30% are white,
20% are Hispanic, and a small percentage
are of other racial or ethnic groups).
- Of new infections among women in the
United States, CDC estimates that approximately
75% of women were infected through heterosexual
sex and 25% through injection drug use
(approximately 64% are African Americans,
18% white, 18% Hispanic, and a small
percentage are of other racial or ethnic
groups).
- About one-third of babies born to HIV-positive
mothers will develop AIDS by 18 months
of age.
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MORTALITY |
- HIV infection is the fifth leading
cause of death for people who are 25-44
years old in the United States .
- AIDS is the leading cause of death
among African American and Hispanic women
ages 25-44 in the US .
- During 2003, AIDS caused the deaths
of an estimated 3 million people , including
2.5 million adults and 500,000 children
under 15.
- Women are 33% more likely to die than
men because treatment begins so much
later, if at all.
- AIDS is the ninth leading cause of
death for children 1 to 4 years old and
it is likely to increase to one of the
top five causes.
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DISPARITIES |
- HIV was the number one cause of death
for African Americans between the ages
of 25-44 in 2000, compared to the fifth
leading cause of death for whites and
the fourth for Hispanics in this same
age group.
- As of the end of 2001, there were 151,430
African Americans estimated to be living
with AIDS, or 42% of the total.
- African Americans account for more
than half (54%) of the 400,000 new HIV
infections estimated to occur in the
United States each year.
- Approximately 78% of HIV-infected women
are minorities and most become infected
through heterosexual transmission.
- HIV is the leading cause of death for
African American men ages 35-44.
- Among children, African-American and
Hispanic children represent more than
80% of pediatric AIDS cases
- African American teens (ages 13-19)
account for almost two-thirds (61%) of
new AIDS cases reported among teens.
- AIDS case rates per 100,000 among African
Americans are highest in the eastern
part of the United States , particularly
in the northeast.
- Estimated AIDS prevalence among African
Americans is clustered in a handful of
states with ten accounting for 73% of
African Americans estimated to be living
with AIDS.
- Ten metropolitan areas account for
nearly half (48%) of African Americans
estimated to be living with AIDS.
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