March 10th marks the 13th observance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health leads nationwide observance that sheds light on the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls.
Each year throughout the month of March, federal, national and community organizations come together to show support for women and girls impacted by the diseases. Nearly a quarter of the U.S. population living with HIV/AIDS are women with African American and Hispanic women being the largest rate of infection among women groups.
This year’s theme is Prevention Starts with Me. This theme emphasizes the role that everyone has to play in HIV/AIDS prevention whether they are already infected or not.
Despite common misconceptions, there are very few ways one can become infected with HIV/AIDS. Those ways are:
– Having unprotected sex with someone that is infected
– Sharing needles or syringes with someone that is infected
– Childbirth and breastmilk
– Blood transfusions
Women’s Health.Gov lists the ways you can protect yourself and