HIV by Age: HIV Risk Behaviors

Español (Spanish)
Related Pages

The risk of getting or transmitting HIV varies widely depending on the type of exposure or behavior. Most commonly, people get or transmit HIV through anal or vaginal sex, or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment—for example, cookers.

Sexual Behaviors Among People with Diagnosed HIV in the US by Age, 2019*
Seven percent of people with HIV had sex without using any HIV prevention strategy in the past 12 months.
Percentage of people with HIV who had sex without using any HIV prevention strategy in the past 12 months by age.

* Data not available for people aged 17 and under.
† Had sex while not virally suppressed with a partner whose HIV status was negative or unknown, a condom was not used, and the partner was not taking PrEP.
Source: CDC. Medical Monitoring Project.

Download or share:
Injection Behaviors Among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in 23 US Cities by Age, 2018*†
One third of PWID without HIV used a syringe after someone else used it.

Percentage of PWID without HIV who used a syringe after someone else used it in the past 12 months by age

Percentage of PWID without HIV who used any injection equipment after someone else used it in the past 12 months by age

* Data not available for people aged 17 and under.
† Among PWID without HIV.
Source: CDC. HIV infection risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among persons who inject drugs—National HIV Behavioral Surveillance: injection drug use, 23 U.S. Cities, 2018. HIV Surveillance Special Report 2020;24.

Download or share:
Top of Page
Page last reviewed: April 7, 2022
Content source: Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention