Douglas County (Oregon) AIDS Council: Women at Risk

Just the Facts

Women are now the fastest growing group of people diagnosed with HIV.

Special Risks for Women

If you have HIV, you could infect your unborn child or infant:

The Women At Risk program is offered through the HIV Resource Center, a project of Douglas County AIDS Council (DCAC).

DCAC is a private non-profit organization 501 (c)3.

Through the HIV Resource Center, DCAC maintains emergency funds, housing assistance, transportation assistance, case management, and referrals for people living with HIV. We promote risk reduction in our community through outreach programs, HIV testing, counseling, speakers bureau, information line and distribution of educational materials to all ages.

If you would like to be part of helping to make your community a better place, just give us a call to discuss donating your time, efforts, materials, or funds. We are all in this together, and together WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

How do I find out if I have HIV?

Taking the HIV antibody test to see if you are infected with HIV is a very personal decision. If you feel you have taken part in activities that have put you at risk, you should consider taking the test. Since you can be infected with HIV and look well and feel healthy for years, the only way to know for sure if you are infected is by taking the HIV antibody test.

Women At Risk Info

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Welcome to Women at Risk!

Serving the needs of Women affected by, and at risk of HIV in the Coos, Curry and Douglas counties of Oregon.

Women working with Women for healthy life choices.

ANONYMOUS, Free No stick HIV testing - Ora-Sure.

For more information, contact
Mary Murphy
Phone 541.440.2761
Toll free 1.877.440.2761
E-mail: [email protected]

or drop by:
832 NW Highland
Roseburg, Oregon
Monday-Friday 9am to 3pm.

HIV - Women at Risk

In Oregon, the majority (54%) of the women with AIDS became infected through heterosexual contact. Women are at greater risk of getting HIV sexually from a partner who injects drugs and from sharing needles themselves.

You CAN get HIV through:

  • » Sex - having unprotected anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
  • » Needles - sharing unclean needles and syringes (works) to inject drugs, steroids, or vitamins; or sharing needles for body piercing and tatoos.
  • » HIV Infected Mother to Child - through pregnancy, birth or breast feeding.
  • » Contaminated blood products - Before 1985, donated blood was not tested. Today all donor blood and blood products are tested for HIV.

Women with Increased Risk

  • » Women with male partners who have sex with other men
  • » Women whose partners have HIV.
  • » Sex Workers.
  • » Women who have multiple sex partners.
  • » Battered Women and Victims of sexual assault.
  • » Incarcerated Women.
  • » Women who have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
  • » Women who have multiple sex partners.
  • » Women of any age who fall within any of the above categories.
 

The Bottom Line

More women are becoming infected with HIV. With early testing and treatment, women with HIV can live longer. Women need to know more about how they can be infected, and should get tested for HIV if they think there is any chance they have been exposed. This is especially true for pregnant women. If they test positive for HIV, they can take steps to reduce their risk of infecting their babies.

The best way to prevent infection in heterosexual sex is with the male condom. Other birth control methods do not protect against HIV. Women who use intravenous drugs should not share equipment (works).

Women should discuss vaginal problems with their doctor, especially yeast infections that do not go away or vaginal ulcers (sores). These could be signs of HIV infection.

Women at Risk!