The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that 26% of the almost 50,000, (roughly 1 in 5) newly diagnosed cases of HIV in the United States were young people between the ages 13 and 24. Children under the age of 13 tend to acquire the infection via mother to child transmission of HIV during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Adolescents and young adults, 13 to 24 who are newly diagnosed, tend to become infected through sexual transmission. The risk factors for HIV infection in adolescents and young adults include, low rates of condom use, high rates of other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as, alcohol and drug use.
It is due to these risk factors and vulnerability of this age-group, that the National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day, #NYHAAD, is observed today and every April 10 to “educate the public about the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people as well as highlight the amazing work young people are doing across the country to fight the HIV & AIDS epidemic.”
The most important step is knowing your status. For an easy an confidential HIV test, you may walk-in to any of our convenient Primary Medical Care Center community clinics, or you may schedule an appointment by visiting our website at www.primarymed.com, or call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic, or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/age/youth/index.html
https://www.hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/youth