Characteristics of women 50 years of age or older with heterosexually acquired AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared characteristics of older (> or = 50 years) and younger (< 50 years) women with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) attributed to heterosexual contact.


METHODS
We interviewed women with heterosexually acquired AIDS reported to 12 state and local health departments. Of 556 women interviewed, 59 (11%) were 50 or older.


RESULTS
Older women were more likely than younger women to live alone (24% vs 11%), to have not completed high school (63% vs 37%), to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while hospitalized (51% vs 32%), and to have never used a condom before HIV diagnosis (86% vs 67%).


CONCLUSIONS
Health care providers need to recognize HIV risk behavior in older women, encourage testing, and promote condom use.
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
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Schable
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Chu
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Diaz
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States