As of December 2003, there were 17 million women aged 15 to 49 living with HIV/AIDS globally; women accounted for nearly 50% of all people living with HIV worldwide. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
The number of women living with HIV has risen in each region of the world over the past two years. The sharpest climb was seen in East Asia, with a 56% increase; Eastern Europe and Central Asia experienced a 48% increase. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
In sub-Saharan Africa, 13.3 million women live with HIV—accounting for almost 60% of all adults with HIV in that region. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
Women are more physically susceptible to HIV infection than men. Male-to-female HIV transmission during sex is about twice as likely to occur as female-to-male transmission. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
The special vulnerability of women and girls is well documented. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa overall, women are 30% more likely to be infected with HIV than men. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
Millions of young people are becoming sexually active each day with no access to prevention services. In sub-Saharan Africa, three quarters of all 15-to-24-year-olds living with HIV are female. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
In household surveys in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa, 15-to-24-year-old women were found to be 2.7 times more likely to be HIV-infected than their male counterparts. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
In low- and middle-income countries, having “AIDS in the family” poses strains on women in agricultural communities. In addition to their household work, many rural women play a significant role in the economic activities that put food on their families' tables. Caring for the sick disrupts this work. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
Nearly one-third of countries lack policies that ensure women's equal access to critical prevention and care services. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
In the United States, AIDS disproportionately affects African-American and Hispanic women, with AIDS ranked among the top three causes of death for African-American women aged 35-to-44-years-old. UNAIDS 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and UNAIDS/WHO 2004 AIDS Epidemic Update
It is estimated that one-fourth of the people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States (180,000-280,000 out of 850,000-950,000 people) are unaware that they are HIV positive. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
African-Americans accounted for over half of the new HIV diagnoses reported in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
Sixty-two percent of children born to HIV-infected mothers were African-American. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
From 1999 through 2003, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased 15% among females and 1% among males. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
Among persons exposed through heterosexual contact, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased each year from 1999 to 2003. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
Among adults and adolescents of both sexes exposed through heterosexual contact, the estimated number of deaths increased from 1999 through 2001, decreased slightly in 2002, and then increased in 2003. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
Estimated number of deaths of persons with AIDS from 1999-2003 in the U.S. is 524,060 including 518,705 adults and adolescents, and 5,355 children under age the age of 15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
Of the estimated 88,815 female adults and adolescents living with AIDS, 63% had been exposed through heterosexual contact, and 35% had been exposed through injection drug use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
HIV transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, labor and delivery or by breastfeeding has accounted for 92% of all AIDS cases reported among U.S. children. The ways to prevent infection in children are to prevent infection in women and to encourage early prenatal care that includes HIV counseling and testing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
It is estimated that there are 40,000 new infections in the United States each year. At least half of these infections are among people under 25. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Report, May 2002.
Research shows that up to two-thirds of new infections are transmitted by people who don’t know they are HIV infected. Fleming DT, Byers, RH, Sweeney PA, Daniels D, Karon JM, Janssen RS. HIV prevalence in the United States, 2000. 9th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, 2002.
More people are living with AIDS in the United States than ever before. Better treatments have contributed to the increased number of people living with AIDS in the U.S. This growing population represents an increasing need for continued HIV prevention services for HIV-infected individuals and for treatment and care services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2003-Volume 15.
More than 1,900 children worldwide are infected with HIV each day. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
In 2003, an estimated 4.8 million people (range: 4.2-6.3 million) became newly infected with HIV—630,000 of them were children (range: 570,000–740,000). The vast majority of them were infected antepartum (20% before childbirth; during pregnancy); intrapartum (40% during childbirth), or breastfeeding (40%). 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Today some 37.8 million people (range: 34.6-42.3 million) are living with HIV—2.1 million (range: 1.9-2.5 million) of them are children under the age of 15. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
In 2003, 2.9 million people (range: 2.6-3.3 million) died of AIDS—490,000 (range: 440,000-580,000) were children. This amounts to approximately 1,350 AIDS deaths in children per day. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Worldwide, over 20 million people who have died from AIDS since the first cases were identified in 1981. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Girls and young women are at greatest risk of HIV infection. As of December 2003, women accounted for nearly 50 % of all people living with HIV worldwide, and for 57% in sub-Saharan Africa. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Young people (aged 15-to-24 years old) account for half of all new infections worldwide. More than 6,000 contract the virus each day, translating to 250 new HIV infections every hour. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
There are children orphaned by AIDS in almost every country of the world. In some countries, there are only a few hundred or a few thousand. In Africa, there are millions. All have suffered the tragedy of losing one or both parents to AIDS, and many are growing up in deprived and traumatic circumstances without the support and care of their immediate family. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Children orphaned by AIDS range in age from a few days or months old to 18 years of age. In countries with low-level and concentrated epidemics, it is impossible to reliably estimate the number of children orphaned by AIDS, or to determine what percentage they represent of all orphans. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
The worst orphan crisis is in sub-Saharan Africa, where 12 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. By 2010, this number is expected to climb to more than 18 million. As staggering as these numbers are, the crisis will worsen if parents struck by HIV do not get access to life-prolonging treatment and effective prevention services. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Prevention programs reach fewer than one in five people who need them. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Nearly one-third (33%) of countries lack policies that ensure women’s equal access to critical prevention and care services. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Five to six million people in low- and middle-income countries need antiretroviral treatment immediately. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that only 400,000 people at the end of 2003 had access to it. This means that nine out of ten people who urgently need HIV treatment are not being reached. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
Antiretroviral treatment for children presents special challenges. Few HIV medicines are produced in pediatric formulations, and those available as syrups have limitations. They have a short shelf-life, children sometimes object to the taste, care providers may have difficulty measuring out the correct doses and they remain very expensive. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
More than 95 percent of people with HIV live in resource-poor nations. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic/UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004
