Women in Motion, Inc believes that information is power. Below is information about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States:
As of January 2020, the CDC reports 1.2 million people in the US living with HIV.
Treatment is prevention. Through treatment, individuals living with HIV can attain undetectable status when their viral load is so low that a test can’t detect it. Once a person’s viral load is undetectable, studies have shown no risk of transmitting HIV through sex. This highlights the importance of testing and treatment in combating the HIV virus.
In addition to treatment for people living with HIV, medicines are available to prevent transmission among people who are HIV-negative.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is medicine taken to prevent HIV. When taken as prescribed, PrEP decreases the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99% and decreases the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by 74%.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is medicine taken within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV. Taking PEP as prescribed can also significantly decrease the chances of contracting HIV post-exposure.
Testing and treatment saves lives. Due largely to expanded testing and treatment, HIV-related deaths in the US have decreased by 37% since 2010.
Despite progress, the CDC estimates that 13% of people in the US living with HIV are not aware of their status. This amounts to around 150,000 people, reiterating the importance of getting tested.
African American and Latinx people are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. In 2020, there were 30,635 new diagnoses in the US. African American people accounted for 12,827 (42%) of these new diagnoses and Latinx people accounted for 8,285 (27%).
For more information, please call 317-938-0107
Dr. Flash explains why Black women are at higher risk of HIV in the U.S. and the importance of getting tested.
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