Women and AIDS.

This article describes the epidemiology of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in women in the United States. Comparisons of female and male transmission categories are made and emphasis is placed on the heterosexual transmission and undetermined risk categories for women. Since its onset in 1981, AIDS has affected males predominantly and female AIDS cases have not received as much attention. AIDS education efforts have not targeted women as much as men, despite women's vulnerability to infection, especially through heterosexual transmission. AIDS tends to generate many issues that concern women's sexuality--contraception, pregnancy and abortion among them. Some of the special problems that women with AIDS face are discussed. Women's role as caregiver for persons with AIDS also is examined. Attention is directed to the ways in which AIDS is associated with the traditional female role.