Older women and HIV

HIV infection is increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Americans over 50 with HIV has increased fivefold (16,300 in 1995, 90,600 in 2003). The elderly represent about 14% of those living with HIV, with senior women representing 18%. The number of infected women is even higher for American women of color, and when looking at global HIV infection rates comes in at a staggering 47%. This means that less than half of all HIV infections worldwide are found in women.