- 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
- It is estimated that almost 35,000 persons in Ontario have been infected with HIV and over 9,000 have died.
- Women accounted for 30% of all HIV positive tests in 2006 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 18,000 people have tested positive for HIV in Toronto since 1985.
- 64.6% 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 Tue Feb 02, 2010
