• Poverty and lack of stable housing significantly affect an individual’s ability to protect themselves.
• Women are more biologically vulnerable to HIV transmission than men.
• Experiences of discrimination can impact an individual’s ability to negotiate safer sex.
• Substance use can influence an individual’s decision-making process.
• Lack of education around HIV/AIDS is a critical factor in HIV transmission.
• HIV/AIDS often affects the most marginalized in our communities.

Globally

• 33.5 million people are living with HIV; 2.5 million of them are children.
• AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since 1981.
• Almost half of all the adults living with HIV are women.
• Someone dies of an AIDS related illness every 15 seconds.
• Young people under 25 account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.
• Someone is infected with HIV every 13 seconds.

In Canada

• Aboriginal people are over-represented in the epidemic and are almost 3X more likely to be infected than other Canadians.
• A national study found that 50% of grade nine and eleven students wrongly believe there is a vaccine to prevent HIV/AIDS.

In Ontario

• Over 30,000 people have tested positive for HIV in Ontario since 1985.
• Women accounted for 25% of all HIV positive tests in 2008 compared to 1.8% in 1985.
• Since 2001, HIV prevalence among persons infected through heterosexual contact has increased 70%.
• People from Africa and the Caribbean made up over 16% of all new HIV diagnoses in Ontario in 2007

In Toronto

• Over 19,458 people have tested positive for HIV in Toronto since 1985.
• 65% of all positive HIV test reports in Ontario have been reported in Toronto.
• Women have accounted for 12% of all positive HIV test reports in Toronto since 1985.

Last Updated on Monday, 09 May 2011 20:34