Every year on March 10 — and throughout the month of March — local, state, federal, and national organizations come together to shed light on the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls and show support for those at risk of and living with HIV. This year marks the 17th annual observance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD).
Several organizations and institutions are striving to make progress towards eliminating HIV and AIDS in the U.S., but women continue to remain vulnerable to infection — especially black or African-American and Hispanic women. Black women accounted for the largest share of new HIV diagnoses among women in the U.S. in 2018. Poverty, stigma, medical mistrust, and fear of discrimination remain factors that prevent some women from getting tested, seeking care, or reaching out for support.
An estimated 14% of transgender women have HIV. According to the new National HIV/AIDS Strategy, an estimated 44% of Black transgender women, 26% of Latina transgender women, and 7% of White transgender women have HIV. Transgender women experience stigma and discrimination and often encounter healthcare providers or clinics lacking knowledge of transgender issues or proper inclusive language. These all pose obstacles to HIV testing, prevention, and care that can be addressed among transgender women.
Collectively, we can work to eliminate these statistics.
The theme for NWGHAAD 2022 is: Prevention and Testing at Every Age. Care and Treatment at Every Stage. This year’s theme focuses on prevention of new HIV infections, increased testing, and better care for individuals living with HIV. By working together, we can help eliminate HIV and improve the quality of treatment and care for people currently living with HIV.
One in four people living with HIV in the United States is a woman. Women of all ages, races, and ethnicities can get HIV, but some women are more at risk than others.
All women can get HIV, but your risk for getting HIV is higher if you:
In the United States, most women get HIV from having sex with a man.
Women are more likely than men to get HIV during vaginal sex because:
As a woman, you are more likely to get HIV during vaginal sex when:
Women who use injection drugs or share needles or syringes and other injection equipment are at high risk for HIV. In fact, sharing needles is the second most common way that HIV is spread. (Sex is the most common way that HIV is spread.) Use of injected drugs also raises your risk for risky behaviors, such as not using a condom during sex. In a study of U.S. cities with high levels of HIV, 72% of women who injected drugs reported having sex without a condom in the past year.
Women who have sex only with women might think they are safe from HIV. This type of HIV transmission is rare. If you are a woman and your female partner has HIV, you can get it if you have cuts, bleeding gums, or sores in your mouth and you give oral sex. It is also possible to spread HIV through menstrual blood and shared sex toys.
As a woman who has sex with women, it is also possible to get HIV if:
Lower your risk of getting HIV or passing it to your partner:
Young women are also at risk. According to a 2013 survey, only half of the female high school students used a condom the last time they had sex. Only one in eight female high school students in the study had ever been tested for HIV.
Younger women are more likely to have a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Having an untreated STI makes HIV transmission more likely. An untreated vaginal yeast or bacterial infection can also increase the risk of transmission. This is because the infection brings white blood cells (and therefore CD4 cells that can be infected with HIV) into the area. This is especially true for women, because small cuts on the skin of the vagina are hard to notice but may allow HIV to pass into your body.
Teen girls and younger women are at higher risk for HIV infection than adult women because their reproductive tract is still developing.
Women over 50 are still at risk for HIV. Older women are more likely than younger women to be diagnosed with HIV much later after they are first infected. This may be because older women may think they do not need condoms, because they do not worry about getting pregnant. They may not talk about safe sex with their doctors or partner or get tested regularly for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Their doctors may also not suspect their symptoms could be caused by HIV.
A later diagnosis can mean a later start to treatment and possibly more damage to your immune system. It can also raise the risk of spreading HIV to other people. You can get HIV at any age. In fact, the decrease in hormone levels during and after menopause means your vagina will probably not be as lubricated (wet) as it used to be. This means that you have a greater risk for tiny cuts in your vagina during sex that can make it easier for HIV to get in.
Women of color, especially African-American and Hispanic women, are disproportionately affected by HIV.
Though HIV diagnoses among women have declined in recent years, more than 7,000 women were diagnosed with HIV at the end of 2018. The majority of those new diagnoses were among women ages 20-39. This National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, here are some facts that you should know about HIV/AIDS.
NWGHAAD is a day to mobilize partners, supporters, and communities across the United States to share information and empower women and girls to learn more about the importance of HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.
Organizing an activity in your community shows that you support all women and girls impacted by HIV and AIDS!
Organize a walk by encouraging your family, friends, and neighbors to walk or run in support of NWGHAAD. Challenge them to 17 minutes of walking, running, or exercise reps on March 10 in recognition of the 17 years the Office on Women’s Health has hosted NWGHAAD! Remember to wear your mask and practice your local guidelines around social distancing to prevent COVID infection.
Organize an event that features art focused on HIV and AIDS education and prevention among women and girls.
This is a great activity for students, so if you're not part of an academic organization, consider partnering with a high school or college for this type of event. Encourage artists on campus and in the community to create artwork focused on HIV and AIDS. Preview the artwork before the show and ask several artists to discuss their artwork at the show. They can discuss why they were inspired to create the piece and how HIV and AIDS has affected them or their community.
Hold an online candlelight vigil to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and to recognize women and girls who have been impacted by the disease.
Invite your community to honor the local women and girls who have been impacted by HIV and AIDS. Your event can include a speaker to help start a discussion about how to take action against HIV and AIDS or to share their personal story. You can also invite local artists to share their work related to HIV and AIDS or ask artists to create something for the event.
Host an online screening of a documentary that highlights the reality of HIV and AIDS.
Ask local movie theaters, independent theaters, community centers, or schools to donate space/equipment for your event and select a movie. Engage the audience in a discussion about HIV and AIDS after the screening. Be prepared with some discussion questions to help the audience reflect on how the movie affected them, changed their thinking, or educated them. It is a good idea to engage a health care provider from your local hospital or health clinic to help lead the discussion.
Offer free HIV testing at your clinic, college, or other location.
If your organization offers HIV testing, consider waiving the fee in honor of NWGHAAD and offering counseling. If you already offer free testing, you could offer extended hours or other giveaways in support of NWGHAAD. If you don't offer HIV testing, partner with someone in your community who does. Enter your zip code into the HIV testing location finder.
Consider forming partnerships with organizations in your community to help support your NWGHAAD events and activities. Developing partnerships allows you to:
Sources:
https://www.womenshealth.gov/nwghaad/every-woman