Yellowstone Aids Project

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United Way - Community Partner

Montana Nonprofit Association

Angelwith

Billings, Montana
2906 1st Avenue
N. Suite 200, 59101
406-245-2029
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Office Hours
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Prevention

Transmission Information

HIV can be transmitted:

• through semen, blood, or vaginal fluids passing between partners through the thin mucous membranes of the penis, vagina, rectum, or mouth.
• usually during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
• by sharing needles for injecting drugs, vitamins, and steroids, or for tattoos and piercing.
• by blood passed from mother to fetus in the womb or to a baby at birth.
• to a baby through breast milk.
• by blood coming in direct contact with the blood or mucous membrane of another person.

Prevention Information

How can I protect myself?

• Abstinence is the best way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.
• Monogamy, or having sex only with a lifetime partner who does not have HIV and who only has sex with you.
• Practicing safer sex by not allowing a sex partners semen, blood, menstrual blood, or vaginal secretions enter your body.
• Don't inject drugs and if you do, don't share needles or works.
• If you share needles or works, clean them at least 3 times with water, 3 times with bleach, and 3 more times with water before and after each use.
• Women with HIV who test positive can take medication to reduce the risk of passing HIV to the fetus.
• To prevent transmitting HIV to others, consider taking an HIV test.

Testing Information

• The Yellowstone AIDS Project offers free and anonymous HIV testing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am-5pm. Appointments are preferred.
• We test for HIV using the OraSure oral fluid test, which collects cells from the inside of your mouth for testing.
• It takes three months after you receive HIV before the test can give accurate results.
• The Yellowstone City/County Health Department, or Deering Clinic, conducts anonymous HIV testing (M, W, and F from 1-4pm) using a blood sample or the oral fluid test. Deering also tests for the Hepatitis C infection.

HIV/AIDS FACTS

• HIV/AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among 15 to 24-year-olds in the United States.
• Among adolescents with AIDS, older teens, males, and racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected.
• Between 1987 and 1994, the number of adolescent female AIDS cases has almost tripled.
• The incubation period between HIV infection and AIDS diagnosis is many years.
• Many people who are diagnosed with AIDS in their 20s actually became infected with HIV as teenagers.
• Survey results show that among teenagers, ages 14-19, condom use actually declines with age.
• Less than half of teenagers who engage in sexual intercourse report consistent use of condoms.
• Nationwide, one in sixty-two high school students reported having injected an illegal drug.
• In the United States, girls make up 58% of new AIDS cases among teens in the U.S.
• Every minute, six young people between the ages of 10 - 25 are infected with HIV. More than 70% of these cases are in Africa.
• Worldwide, over 50 percent of all new HIV infections are in people 15 to 24 years old. However, young people make up only about 30 percent of the world's population.
• There are 1.7 billion 10- to 24-year-olds throughout the world, representing the largest group ever to enter adulthood.
• AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death globally.