Women and HIV/AIDS in Contra Costa County Fact Sheet

Contra Costa women comprise about 16% of all reported AIDS cases (2,438 total cases) and 20% of all reported HIV cases (549 total cases). It is estimated that 1/3 of the women do not know they have HIV.

AIDS and HIV impact women of color disproportionately. While 56% of women with AIDS and 59% of women with HIV are African Americans, African Americans represent 9.4% of the total population in Contra Costa. There is also a growing concern for Latino women. While 14% of women with AIDS and 9% of women with HIV are Latinos, Latinos represent 17.7% of the total population in Contra Costa.

Unprotected sex (without condoms) with an HIV-infected male and sharing injection needles through drug use are the most common ways of HIV transmission. About 20% of Contra Costa women with HIV do not know how they were infected with HIV.

The majority of the Contra Costa women with HIV (83%) are between the ages of 13-49 years or of childbearing years. Mother-to-child transmission accounts for many of the HIV cases for girls 0-12 years old. Avoiding breastfeeding and use of medication can reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Getting tested for HIV and finding out about behaviors that put women at risk for HIV are important steps to helping women stay HIV free. Early care and treatment helps prevent disease, death, and transmission of HIV.

Contra Costa Women with HIV by Race/Ethnicity Contra Costa Women with HIV by Mode of Exposure

Source: HIV and AIDS Surveillance Data Systems as of 1/8/04.

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