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Women account for more than 40 percent of adults who are infected with HIV worldwide. In the United States, AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death for women aged 25 to 44 and the leading cause of death for African-American women aged 25 to 44. Women are one of the fastest growing populations being infected with HIV-the number of AIDS cases among American women is doubling every one to two years.
In response to the rapid growth of the epidemic in women, the APA AIDS Education project, in collaboration with the Columbia University HIV Mental Health Training Project, is offering a one-day training session on women and AIDS at APA's Institute on Psychiatric Services in Los Angeles.
The program, to be held Friday, October 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the San Diego Ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, will feature a national, multidisciplinary faculty providing presentations on all aspects of HIV/AIDS among women, including ways to both stem the epidemic and best treat those affected by it.
The morning plenary session includes information on HIV epidemiology, risk behavior and prevention, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS services for women in the local Los Angeles area. The morning ends with an interactive workshop on risk-reduction strategies including methods to increase the comfort level of health care providers when talking to patients about sex and drug use.
The afternoon session begins with a panel of HIV-positive women, who will provide personal testimony of their AIDS-related treatment experiences from cultural perspectives, specifically African American, Latina, and Asian. The afternoon ends with presentations and discussion of HIV/AIDS and its effect on specific populations, including lesbians, families and AIDS orphans, and adolescents. Ample time will be provided at the end of each session for audience questions and discussion.
The faculty include Vivian Brown, Ph.D., Francine Cournos, M.D., Tom Donahoe, M.B.A., Marshall Forstein, M.D., Richard Herman, M.A., Joyce Hunter, D.S.W., Meg Kaplan, Ph.D., Mari Radzik, Ph.D., Helen Rodriquez-Trias, M.D., and Cynthia Telingator, M.D.
Reservations are required. Additional information is available from the APA AIDS Program office at (202) 682-6l63