Fact Sheet about HIV

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HIV

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that can only infect humans and leads to the weakening of the immune system - the body’s system for fighting disease.

• HIV is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, rectal fluids, and breast milk.

• Knowing your status through frequent testing is a vital way to help lower the transmission of HIV.

• While there is currently no cure for HIV, early medical care and treatment have the greatest effect on prolonging life and lowering transmission rates.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHO IS IMPACTED BY HIV

• One in four people living with HIV in the United States are women.

• An estimated 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United States. 

• Of those living with HIV, one in eight (13%) are unaware of their status. 

• Blacks/African Americans are the most impacted racial/ethnic population, with Hispanic/Latino folks being the second most impacted.  

• Men who have sex with men (MSM) are the most impacted populations across all races/ ethnicities. 

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT TRANSMISSION OF HIV

• Heterosexual sexual contact is the most common method of HIV transmission among women (84%), followed by sharing contaminated prep and needle supplies in injection drug use (16%).

• Perinatal transmission – transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or breastfeeding – is the most common way for children to contract HIV.  The transmission of HIV can be reduced to 1% or lower with proper medication use during and after pregnancy.

• Drugs and alcohol, which lower inhibitions, create higher probability for HIV transmission during sexual contact.