On National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Planned Parenthood Encourages HIV Education and Prevention

New York, NY — Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America is highlighting the importance of HIV education and prevention, including getting tested and knowing your status. Nearly one million people in the US are diagnosed with HIV, and about one in four of them identifies as a woman — yet not all are getting the vital care they need to be healthy.  

Planned Parenthood was founded on the simple idea that women should have the information and care they need to stay healthy and achieve their life goals,” said Dr. Leana Wen, president at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “That’s why we’re committed to providing women and girls and all people, especially those facing barriers to accessing quality health care, with comprehensive and cutting-edge HIV prevention, education, testing, and linkage to care. Every single one of our more than 600 health centers performs HIV tests, and last year we tested more than 740,000 patients for HIV/AIDS.

Last year, Planned Parenthood announced the new phase of our HIV Prevention Initiative(HPI) to continue to support and expand HIV prevention efforts across the country, including further integration of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) awareness and education. PrEP is a daily pill that can help people who are at high risk for HIV reduce the risk of transmission. Support from a grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc., a research-based biopharmaceutical company, allows us to better understand and address the barriers that exist for many populations — including women and girls who are most at-risk — when it comes to accessing HIV prevention services and education.

This second phase of HPI aims to build awareness of HIV prevention and testing and train Planned Parenthood staff to reach communities with the greatest need, including Black women, transgender women of color, and Spanish-speaking women of color, whose experiences with stigma and discrimination affect their access to health care and the quality of health care they receive, as well as increase their risk of HIV. Stigma and discrimination are among the foremost barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and support. This work continues to allow Planned Parenthood to better understand and address the barriers that exist for many populations, particularly women of color who are disproportionately affected by HIV, when it comes to accessing HIV prevention services and education.

As one of the nation’s leading HIV testing providers, Planned Parenthood knows that HIV remains a serious health concern for too many people and too many communities. That’s especially true of women of color, and we recognize the importance of continually expanding our HIV education and prevention work to help people protect themselves so that they can lead their best lives,” said Dr. Wen.

As part of our mission to help people stay healthy, Planned Parenthood works every day to ensure that all people — no matter who they are or where they live — can access accurate, high-quality, and compassionate sexual and reproductive health care and education. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest provider of sex education, and every health center provides HIV testing. More than 400 Planned Parenthood health centers in 44 states across the US offer PrEP, and many offer PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) as well. There are also numerous education and prevention services, including online tools, with information on HIV, a video series to help you start conversations about STIs, and The Check, a short quiz to help figure out if you should get tested for HIV and other STIs. To learn more or find a health center near you, visit PlannedParenthood.org.

### 

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives