Meeting to Foster AIDS Dialogue

Just looking at the numbers, one can see the HIV/ AIDS epidemic is taking a heavy toll on women and girls in the United States.

The epidemic's disproportionate impact on women of color, especially black women, has several evident root causes: unprotected sex, intravenous drug use and mother-to-child transmission. But another factor -- communication between younger and older women -- still remains taboo.

"It's always been a problem with teen girls and adults because we know that when it comes to everything, especially health and sexuality, the information is going to come from whoever the caretaker is," said Chyvonne Washington, program coordinator at Girls Inc. of Alameda County in San Leandro.
By bringing the younger and older generations of women together in one place, Girls Inc. is hoping to spark a dialogue about the epidemic -- and celebrate the bond between teen girls and older female family members -- in its annual Celebrating Special Women in Our Lives conference today.

"Adults are not going to teach you in the same way you learn from your peers," Washington said. "So it's important for both generations to learn about the issues together so when they do sit down ... they have more of an idea of what to talk about."

Women account for a growing share of new AIDS diagnoses, with black women making up two-thirds of new female cases and Latinas 16 percent, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

HIV was the leading cause of death in black women ages 25 to 34 in 2002, the foundation says.

Knowing that many of the women are infected with the disease at a young age, Girls Inc. today will offer two workshops -- one for teen girls, the other for the older women -- on how women can better communicate with one another about the epidemic.

Experts say this is an important model for how to prevent HIV and AIDS from spreading further in young women. Without female role models in their lives, they say, young girls aremore at risk at a time when the disease is beginning to wipe out an entire generation of women.

"A lot of the mothers are gone (because of the disease), and that puts you at risk," said Lori Williams, director of care and prevention services with the Alameda County Public Health Department. "So both generations can provide help and mend some of the stuff they come upon."

Martin Ricard is a general assignment reporter who also covers San Leandro. He can be reached at (510) 293-2480 or mricard@dailyreviewonline.com.