Facts about HIV/AIDS

 The following facts were conducted by the California Department of Public Health 

- Injection drug use is the second leading cause of HIV and the leading cause of the Hepatitis C virus in California.

- California data suggests that over 1,500 new syringe-sharing HIV infections occur annually.

- HCV affects approximately 600,000 people, which is 2% of California’s population.

- The link between injection drug use and HIV in California is particularly strong for women and people of color.

- Among adult/adolescent women in California, injection drug use-related risk factors account for 35% of cumulative AIDS cases, 46% of AIDS cases among African American women and 55% of AIDS cases among Native American women are associated with injection durg use, compared to 40% of AIDS cases among White Women.

- It is estimated that nearly 12,000 women are currently living with HIV/AIDS in California.

- In 2002, HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death among African American women ages 25-34, the third leading cause of death for African American women ages 35-44, and the fourth leading cause of death for African American women ages 45-54 and Latinos ages 35-44.

- HCV is regarded as an opportunistic infection in people with HIV infection, although it is not considered an AIDS-defining illness.

- The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a growing health threat to women worldwide, including women in the United States, especially among young women and women of color.  It is estimated that nearly 12,000 women are currently living with HIV/AIDS in California.