Maryland women living with HIV/AIDS.

Approximately one-quarter of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases reported in Maryland are women. African-American women account for 80% or more of the cases in the Baltimore-Metropolitan area. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women are frequently dealing with a constellation of social problems including lack of resources, care-taking responsibilities for extended families, histories of substance abuse, and loss of others to AIDS. This article is an attempt to describe the social context of living with HIV/AIDS to Maryland physicians.