National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (April 10)

National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) on April 10th is an opportunity to educate others about the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people. Education and testing are critical to ending HIV – especially for young people living with HIV, who are the least likely group to have a suppressed viral load. Read on to learn more.

About Youth and HIV

Today’s youth are the first generation who have never known a world without HIV and AIDS. The CDC reports that in 2018, youth aged 13 to 24 made up 21% of the 37,832 new HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas.

According to Advocates for Youth, young people living with HIV are the least likely of any age group to be retained in care and have a suppressed viral load. Addressing the impact of HIV on young people requires they have access to affirming, culturally competent, and medically accurate resources and tools.

Learn more about Advocates for Youth‘s work to end HIV criminalization, discrimination, and stigma.

Health information on PEP and Young People

Fact sheets on PrEP and Young People

HIV and Young People: One Pager

Statistics on youth and HIV/AIDS from the CDC and Advocates for Youth:

• The CDC reports that in 2018, youth aged 13 to 24 made up 21% of the 37,832 new HIV diagnoses in the United States (US) and dependent areas.
• The CDC reports that young people living with HIV are the least likely of any age group to be retained in care and have a suppressed viral load. Advocates for Youth recognizes that addressing HIV in youth requires that young people have access to honest and inclusive information and tools they need to make informed decisions.
• The CDC reports that in many cases, young people are unable to access pre-exposure prophylaxis, a daily pill to prevent HIV, without parental consent.
• The CDC reports that 37 states have laws that criminalize HIV exposure.
• In the US, more than 50% of those accused in reported HIV criminalization cases in 2020 were people of color, a larger proportion than people of color estimated to be living with HIV in the US. Alongside our capacity-building partners, Advocates for Youth, we call to an end of the criminalization of young people living with HIV.

Pacific AETC Resources on Youth and HIV

Access Now

Don’t miss out on our on-demand session, Adapting HIV Service for Youth During COVID-19 and Beyond, presented February 12, 2021.

Learning Objectives: 

• Explore the landscape for youth access to HIV services, including sexual health education, prevention, and care​
• Discuss the barriers and facilitators for youth transitioning from adolescent to adult HIV care and services
• Identify strategies for youth to assist with clinical engagement, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Identify and brainstorm resources to support youth focused HIV program can implement to support continued access to services