Who is at risk for getting HIV ?

A person of any age, sex, race, ethnic group, religion, economic background, or sexual orientation can get HIV.

Those who are most at risk are:

1. people who have “unprotected sex” with someone who has HIV. Unprotected sex means vaginal, anal, or oral sex without using a condom.
2. people who share needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs, steroids, or even vitamins or medicine with someone who has HIV.
3. Babies can potentially become infected during their mothers’ pregnancy, during delivery, or after birth in the immediate postpartum period. They can also become infected through breastfeeding.

Health care and maintenance workers who may be exposed to blood and/or body luids at work sometimes get infected through on-the-job exposures like needle-stick injuries