Overlooked, Ignored, and Forgotten

Abstract

This article explores the experience of mature women in the HIV/AIDS epidemic,especially in terms of their vulnerability to infection and lack of AIDS-relatedknowledge. Demographic trends illustrate the increase of AIDS diagnoses amongmidlife women and women of color. The proportion of adolescent and adult femalecases among women age 50 and older has been 9% to 10% since 1989. However, theproportion of those mature women who are age 65 and older when diagnosed hasdeclined from 36% in 1989 to 20% in 1997. Lack of accurate knowledge amongwomen in older cohorts is shown with data from the 1994 National Health InterviewSurvey. Increased age is related to not having accurate information, including knowledge necessary to protect oneself from high-risk behavior such as the effectivenessof condoms or that someone with AIDS can look well and healthy. Finally, researchrecommendations are made along with the suggestion to employ a life-courseperspective when developing education, intervention, and treatment programs forwomen.