Some info on the scope of the disease

In the United States, up to 950,000 Americans are estimated to have HIV, with 40,000 new infections every year.  Among women, minorities - particularly African Americans - are hit by the vast majority of AIDS cases.  These women are suffering from rates of HIV infection 10 to 20 times those of white women, and AIDS is one of the leading causes of death among women aged 25-44 years.  In the Tri-County region, as of December 31, 2003, women represented 36% of all people living with AIDS, but 46% of those diagnosed and reported with HIV (not AIDS).