HIV testing among women aged 18-44 years--United States, 1991 and 1993.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women and children in the United States. In 1995, of the 73,380 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases reported, women accounted for 13,764 (19%). HIV infection is the third leading cause of death among all U.S. women aged 25-44 years and the leading cause of death among black women in this age group. Moreover, an estimated 7,000 infants are born to HIV-infected women in the United States each year; without intervention, approximately 15%-30% of these infants would be infected. HIV counseling and testing services are important for women to reduce their risk for becoming infected or, if already infected, to initiate early treatment and prevent HIV transmission to others, including their infants. This report summarizes findings about HIV-testing practices for women aged 18-44 years based on data obtained from CDC's 1991 and 1993 AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes Supplements to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS-AIDS), which indicate that approximately one third of women aged 18-44 years have been tested for HIV.