title: The Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Care among Adult and Adolescent Females in the United States, 2008-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine epidemiological patterns in diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and prevalence among females by age, race/ethnicity and transmission category, and essential steps in the continuum of HIV care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the National HIV Surveillance System, we estimated the number of females aged 13 years or older diagnosed with HIV infection in 2008 through 2012 and living with HIV at the end of 2011 in the United States. We determined percentages of females linked to care, retained in care, and virally suppressed in 18 jurisdictions with complete reporting of CD4 and viral load test results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2008 to 2012, the estimated rate of HIV diagnoses among females decreased from 9.3 to 6.9 per 100,000 (-7.1% per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], -7.9, -6.3). In 2012, the diagnosis rate was highest among Blacks/African Americans (35.7), followed by Hispanics or Latinos (6.4), and Native Hawaiian Other Pacific Islander (5.1), and lowest among Whites (1.8). Most females diagnosed in 2012 were linked to care within 3 months of diagnosis (82.5%). About one-half (52.4%) of females living with HIV in 2011 received ongoing care in 2011 and 44.3% had a suppressed viral load. Viral suppression was lower among American Indian/Alaska Native (29.7%) and Black/African American (41.6%) compared with White females (46.5%). The percentage in care and with viral suppression was lower among younger compared with older females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV diagnoses continue to decrease among females; however, disparities exist in HIV burden and viral suppression. Improvements in care and treatment outcomes are needed for all women with particular emphasis on younger women.
authors: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: hhp9@cdc.gov.
authors: Ndidi
authors: N
authors: Nwangwu-Ike
authors: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Angela L
authors: AL
authors: Hernandez
authors: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: An
authors: Health Information Technology System Department (HITS), ICF International, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Taoying
authors: T
authors: Huang
authors: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: H Irene
authors: HI
authors: Hall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents