Since the AIDS epidemic began in the 1980s, the virus has always had a disproportionate impact on certain groups of people. Perhaps surprisingly, those once at greatest risk are not necessarily among the groups of people mostly affected by HIV today. An understanding of how high-risk groups contract and transmit the virus can help educators develop prevention strategies.
Children in Impoverished Nations
Over half a million children worldwide contract HIV each year, according to the Global Health Council. Many are born with the virus or contract it through breastfeeding. Of the 300,000 children who died from AIDS in 2006, nearly all lived in sub-Saharan Africa. Children in these developing nations are particularly vulnerable to HIV. Many are orphaned, impoverished or responsible for younger siblings and are more likely than others to engage in risky behavior.
IV Drug Users
HIV is growing in places where intravenous drug use is widespread, the result of contaminated needles and needle-sharing practices. According to the Global Health Council, AIDS is the No. 1 cause of death among IV drug users. Russia, Ukraine, China, Southeast Asia and portions of India and Latin America have growing numbers of people who are using IV drugs.
People Over 50
Studies of Americans and Australians over the age of 50 indicate that this age group is less likely to use condoms and to be HIV-conscious than those who are younger, according to an article, "The New AIDS Risk Group," on The Body website. This apparent complacency is putting them at greater risk of acquiring HIV, according to a decade-long study at Australia's University of New England in South Wales. A Centers for Disease Control study concurred, and noted that more than 11 percent of new HIV cases occurred in people who were older than 50. AIDS has become the 15th-leading cause of death among those over 65.
