Revision of Maryland Minor Consent Law on Human Immunodeficiency
Virus Infection Prevention: An Outcome of Advocacy
The prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune
deficiency syndrome remains an ongoing problem for the United States and many
countries around the world. In the US, nearly 1.1 million people are currently living with HIV.
In 2018 approximately 37,968 people were diagnosed with HIV in the US and dependent
areas of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico,
the Republic of Palau, and the US Virgin Islands.
Among those people diagnosed with HIV, 69% were gay, bisexual and other men
who have sex with men (MSM), 24% were heterosexuals, and 7%
were individuals who inject drugs.
Youths aged 12-24-years make up more than 20% of HIV diagnosis in the US;
this age group has the lowest rates of antiretroviral therapy uptake and
adherence, and the lowest level of awareness of their HIV status among all age groups.
Despite well-documented progress in the treatment of individuals living with HIV in the US,
much work is still needed to prevent HIV infections, especially in young adults
and adolescents.
Data shows that between 2012 and 2016, HIV diagnoses among adolescents
and young adults in the US increased by six percent, while rates
of HIV diagnoses among adults decreased or stabilized during the same period.
Maryland was ranked sixth among U.S. states and territories in adult/adolescent
HIV diagnoses rates at 19.6 per 100,000 in 2018.
Sadly, Maryland youths aged 13-24-years accounted for 19.2% of the 994 new HIV
diagnoses in 2018, with 56 of the new HIV diagnoses among people younger than age 20
HIV/AIDS Res Treat Open J. 2020; 7(1): 10-17. doi: 10.17140/HARTOJ-7-134
