Women's Health - HIV

Women’s HIV Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around a quarter of people living with HIV in the United States are women. Although the annual number of HIV diagnosis among women have declined in recent years, certain ethnicities are still disproportionately affected.

Georgia currently ranks second in the rate of HIV diagnoses among adults and adolescents, and fourth in the rate of persons living with HIV. (HIV Surveillance Summary Georgia, 2021) The burden of HIV/AIDS among Georgian women is fueled by an array of factors related to socioeconomic status, cultural, stigma and access to quality care. The problem is exacerbated when factors such as gender inequality, poverty, intimate partner and domestic violence are included.

The Office of HIV/AIDS is currently developing a strategic plan to address some of the social and structural causes of HIV infection in women. The plan will identify our overarching objectives, define our goals, and outline specific action steps the Office of HIV/AIDS will take for improving HIV prevention services for women in Georgia.

Please bookmark this page and be on the lookout for more details about our upcoming strategic plan, women’s resources and events for women in Georgia.

Explore this page to learn more about HIV among women, and how women can benefit from using PrEP- a pill to prevent HIV.

To learn more about Women’s Health related resources, services, and upcoming events, please contact

Tajma M. Washington, MPA
Women's Prevention HIV Coordinator
[email protected]
Phone: 470-817-6982

Perinatal HIV Program (Pregnancy and HIV)

Georgia first adopted the Fetal Infant Mortality Rate (FIMR) model back in 2013 with the goal to improve Perinatal HIV prevention systems and identify missed opportunities of care after birth by using the FIMR case review and community action process. Based on the outcomes of FIMR, Georgia is now focusing on the socioeconomic issues that affect pregnant HIV positive women by developing a new program to eliminate perinatal transmission of HIV before birth.

The goal of reaching and sustaining elimination of perinatal transmission of HIV in Georgia is within reach. In the United States, New York, Illinois, and Florida have demonstrated successful reduction rates of mother to child transmission of HIV through their Perinatal HIV program that focus on perinatal case management, HIV testing, and provider education.

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and Office of HIV/AIDS have developed strategic priorities based on highlighted findings to support the HIV Perinatal program to reduce perinatal transmission of HIV. These strategic priorities will bridge gaps of missed opportunities of care among HIV positive pregnant women in Georgia and illuminate the program’s overarching goal to prevent perinatal HIV transmission before delivery. As of March 2023, the HIV Perinatal Program developed standard operating procedures to strengthen collaboration between Ryan White Part A, B, C, and D Case Managers; Ryan White Medical Providers; and referred OB-GYN offices throughout the state.

HIV Perinatal Strategic Plan

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and Office of HIV/AIDS have developed the HIV Perinatal Strategic plan to address mother-to-child transmission in Georgia. The strategic plan focuses on collaboration efforts between internal and external partners and activities to strengthen and improve linkage to care, education, and treatment for HIV positive pregnant women & postpartum women ( including their infants).

Introducing the Georgia law §511-5-4

The Georgia law §511-5-4 mandates that all pregnant women be tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis and HIV in the first and third trimesters of their pregnancy. The Georgia Department of Public Health amended its regulations in August 2022 to add additional testing requirements that align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendations for prenatal screening.

It is extremely important to follow this law. With the practice of this law, Georgia can reach ZERO perinatal transmission cases of congenital syphilis and HIV.