On National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) we recognize the importance of working to fight the HIV epidemic among women and girls in the U.S.. In 2018, nearly 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses was among women, but women are less likely to get tested for HIV or be aware of their status.
This year, the theme of NWGHAAD is “HIV Prevention Starts with Me: Ending the HIV Epidemic Together.” This theme focuses on the importance of working together to end the HIV epidemic for all impacted communities. Community organizations, health care professionals, friends, and family can all work together to prevent new HIV infections.
According to CDC, between 2014 and 2018, new HIV diagnoses among women dropped by 6% overall, and by 18% among young women aged 13-24. While this is significant progress, women of different age groups are impacted very differently. New HIV diagnoses have risen among women aged 55 and older, and 27% of all new HIV diagnoses among women in 2018 were among young women aged 27-34.
Transgender women are also disproportionately impacted by HIV, especially by race/ethnicity. Between 2006 and 2017, an estimated 44% of Black transgender women, 26% of Hispanic/Latina transgender women, and 7% of White transgender women were living with HIV.
There is still work to be done, which is why education, testing, and treatment are paramount to eliminating HIV. On this National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, get tested and know your status.
Get involved for all the women and girls in your lives, in your community, and around the world:
- Raise Awareness. Share information and show your support by using the hashtag #NWGHAAD to join the online conversation and raise awareness within your networks about the impact of HIV on women and girls.
- Know Your Status. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Use AIDSVu.org/testing to find a testing location near you.
- Learn More About HIV Where You Live. Visit AIDSVu.org to explore interactive maps that visualize the HIV epidemic’s impact on women and girls at the state, county, and ZIP code levels.
