Young people in the United States are at a greater risk of getting HIV infection. In 2006, young adults aged 13 to 29 accounted for the largest number of new HIV infections in the United States. According to CDC research on disadvantaged youth, the rate of HIV among young women aged 16 to 21 is 50 percent higher than the rate among young men in that age group. African American women in this study were seven times as likely as white women to be HIV-positive. Young women are at a greater risk of getting HIV for several reasons, including:
Biological reasons
Lack of awareness
Not knowing their partners’ risk factors, such as a history of unprotected sex or injection drug use
Feeling less power in relationships
Having sex with older men who are infected
Many young women infected with HIV as infants from their mothers are now facing decisions about becoming sexually active as well. In a recent American Journal of Public Health article, some of these young women grow up without knowing they are HIV-positive. Family members and caregivers delayed telling them because of fear or shame. Other research shows that once these young women are aware, they are more likely to have risky sex without telling partners they are HIV-positive.
Many young people do not know about HIV risk and don’t worry about becoming infected. HIV prevention outreach and education efforts, including programs on abstinence and HIV screening, are key to preventing the spread of HIV by young people. The following are some CDC-tested prevention programs that state and local health departments provide for youth across the country.
For more information about HIV/AIDS in Women and other Women’s health issues 
The Statistics in DC only make me cry. . . I have seen some of the lives that it has so painfully laid its hands on. Now trust me when I say the young women that I have met are STRONG and fighting and LIVING and ADVOCATING but we need our youth in the district TO GET TESTED and to make safer choices!
Surveying HIV Risk Factors Among
Young People in Washington, DC
Metro TeenAids Issue Brief 2007
According to national estimates, approximately one half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur among people under 25 years of age. Given that Washington, DC has the highest rate of AIDS of any major metropolitan area in the country, and that national surveys show high rates of sexual activity among DC youth, there is much concern that the HIV rates among adolescents in the District of Columbia are staggeringly high.
Although our city does not yet have exact data on the number of youth living with HIV, estimates suggest that between 1,000 and 1,500 HIV-infected youth live in our nation’s capital. That’s the equivalent of nearly one teen in every classroom, yet fewer than 300 HIV positive teens are receiving age-appropriate social services and effective health care.
HIV-infected youth are neither getting tested for HIV to learn their status, nor seeking care. Adolescents, especially those who are sexually active, may be reluctant to seek medical care due to stigma-based fears about confidentiality.
So. . . WHAT can YoU Do? GET TesTEd! Practice Safe SEx or BetteR YeT. . DOn’T have SEx. . and WAIT! but, I understand if you are. . . just be SAFE! Click here for more 
information or give Metro TeenAids a call @ 202 543 9355