United
States:
At the end of the December 2002, the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) reported approximately 384, 906 persons in the United
States living with AIDS:
- 46% were in whites,
- 34% in blacks,
- 18% in Hispanics,
- <1% in Asians and Pacific Islanders,
- <1% in American Indians and Alaska
Natives;
Of the 298,248 men (of 13 years or older) who were living with AIDS:
- 57% were men who had sex with men (MSM),
- 23% were intravenous drug users (IDU)
- 10% were exposed through heterosexual
contact
- 8% were both MSM and IDU
Of the 82,764 adult and adolescent women with AIDS:
- 61% were exposed through heterosexual
contact
- 36% were exposed through intravenous drug
use
- 3893 children were living with AIDS.
The proportion of women with AIDS has increased steadily, and the
proportion infected heterosexually has also increased, surpassing the
proportion infected through injecting drug use. During 2002, 162
pediatric AIDS cases were reported; of these, 88% were acquired
prenatally. The number of estimated pediatric AIDS cases diagnosed each
year has declined since 1992. The decline in pediatric AIDS incidence
is associated with the implementation of Public Health Service
guidelines. The guidelines include universal counseling and voluntary
HIV testing of pregnant women and the use of zidovudine by HIV-infected
pregnant women and their newborn infants.
Sources:
http://www.avert.org/statsum.htm
and
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm
Canada:
It has been estimated that at the end of 2002 there were approximately
56,000 people in Canada living with HIV (including those living with
AIDS). Furthermore, of the 56,000, an estimated 17,000 were living with
HIV but were unaware that they were infected. There have been 53,887
positive tests reported to CIDPC (Centre for Infectious Disease
Prevention and Control) since HIV testing began in Canada in November
1985. In 2002, there were 2,499 positive tests reported. On an annual
basis, the proportion of women increased from 12 % in the period
between 1985 and 1997 to 25% in 2001. The proportion of positive HIV
test reports among injecting drug users decreased from 28.7% in 1998 to
17.5% in the first half of 2003. The amount of positive HIV test
results among men who have sex with men decreased from 68% in the
period between 1985 and 1997 to 36% in 2001 - but had risen to 43.5% in
the first six months of 2003.
Sources:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english
and
http://www.avert.org/canstatg.htm
