Introduction
Dear Reader,
This "Healthy Loving" booklet was developed by a group of women at an organization called Women Alive in Los Angeles, CA. They are women just like you; some single, some married. They come from various ethnic and racial backgrounds, religions, and social groups. Several are women living with HIV/AIDS. What we all have in common is that we want to help stop the spread of HIV among women. The purpose of this booklet is to help give you a better understanding of what HIV is, how to see if you are at risk, and how you can take steps to protect yourself. We are now 20 years into the HIV epidemic in the United States. Women make up nearly one quarter of AIDS cases here in the US, and are among the fastest growing group of new HIV infections. Worldwide, women make up nearly half of all AIDS cases, and thousands die every day around the world from AIDS related complications. Many women do not consider themselves to be at risk for HIV. Therefore, women often do not get tested until it is too late. The only way to know if you or your partner is infected is to take the HIV antibody test. We hope that the information in these pages will increase your knowledge about HIV, and will help you to make changes to keep you safe. We encourage you to share this information with your sisters, mothers, neighbors, friends, and loved ones. Together we can make a difference.
— Women Alive
This material was produced by Women Alive and funded through a community materials development grant provided by the California AIDS Clearinghouse, a CA DHS/Office of AIDS Community Education & Prevention Statewide Technical Assistance Program at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
