Cases of AIDS in older women on the rise

Jet, August 18, 1997

The number of cases of AIDS in older women is steadily on the rise, according to recent figures released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

About 2,500 cases of AIDS among women 60 and over have been reported to the CDC, and the number of new cases has been growing year by year, from 102 in 1986 to 305 last year. Blood transfusions accounted for most AIDS cases among women in that age group a decade ago; now heterosexual contact leads to 69 percent of them.

The number of AIDS cases reported through December of 1996 for Black women 60 and over was 1,128 cases, up from last year by 193 cases.

Over the last decade there have been several reports of older women who contracted AIDS from husbands infected by prostitutes, but scientists now believe that female-to-male transmission is relatively rare. Generally, the men have been intravenous drug users or have had male lovers.

AIDS cases reported through December of 1996 for Black men age 60 and over was 4,112 cases, up from last year by 653 cases. AIDS cases reported through December of 1996 for White men age 60 and over was 7,372 cases, up from last year by 629 cases.

The number of AIDS cases reported through December of 1996 for White women age 60 and over was 1,198, up from last year by 81 cases.