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Subscribe to RSSAnna Fowlkes, 64, didn't date for years after her husband, Sonny, died of a brain tumor. And after she finally did, she learned she’d become infected with HIV. She taught her son about safe sex, she says, but, like many other seniors, it didn’t occur to her that she needed to practice it too.
“We are of a generation where that was not something we have to think about,” she says. “Now I know better.”
Anna Fowlkes contracted HIV from a man she had a relationship with in her 50s. Now 64, she's found purpose doing HIV and AIDS outreach and education for other seniors.
One in 10 people newly diagnosed with HIV are age 50 or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2006 statistics, the last year for which there is data. Dr. Brad Hare, the medical director of San Francisco General Hospital’s HIV/AIDS clinic, Ward 86, says up to half of the new infections seen in San Francisco among that age group are in women. That’s far higher than the 27 percent of new infections that occur in women of all ages, according to the CDC’s 2006 statistics.
Some, like Fowlkes, may be entering a new sexual relationship for the first time in decades after the death of a spouse and may not be aware of the risk, says Hare. In other cases, women may have believed they were in a monogamous relationship with a husband or partner, who wasn’t monogamous with them.
Today, Fowlkes, is an advocate for HIV prevention among her peers. “I don’t want [others] to have to go down the road I’ve gone down,” she says. “I want them to get tested.”
Msnbc.com health editor Linda Dahlstrom teamed up with Katja Heinemann (Aurora Select), a freelance photojournalist who has been documenting the graying of AIDS since 2005, to report the video above and this story.
See more of Heinemann's work on the subject at www.grayingofaids.org
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This womans husband died, she waits years to have another relationship and sex, and you call her promiscuous. A woman who was raised in a time when people believed in monogomy and a host of other values. Because of her innocence to the ugly reality that sex and relationships has become you insult her. Any thoughts about the guy who knew her situation and gave her HIV? Or is it so much easier to blame the victim?
That time did not exist. No human population ever practiced monogamy. What planet are you from?
I feel bad for anyone that has a disease. I don't feel anyone with HIV/AIDS is anyone special and should be treated equally with other sick people. And if you got HIV/AIDS because you were doing something unsafe you should not expect me to pay for your treatments.
You keep telling yourself that. I am sure it makes it easier for you to commit adultery. It's not the truth, but it apparently works for you.
I don't think the government told the hole story on HIV or any of the killers virus, bacteria that out there, if they did you would most likely be a panic and a great kill off something happen in FT Smith it was on the noon news then silent the CDC came in and quartering the area no one in only with special suites the hole block was quartering everyone had to get a shot and then watch trying to get information later went down and saw the circuses a week later nothing the guy that had it die and and everyone else was very sick it was not aids so when it come to the government I love my country but I fear my government good day
What a beautiful lady! I hope she continues on with what she's doing, it sounds like it brings her great satisfaction, and it should. I'm the same age, so it's a wake up call for me also. Good luck and good health to you, we need more people like you in this country.
yet another reason to adhere to masturbation. safest sex around folks.
My gynecologist warned me about this about five years ago. I don't know what's so hard to believe about it. If there is a .5% chance that I'll get anything I don't want from a man I'm dating, I'll go for the protection. When you have sex with another person who are involved irrevocably with everyone they've ever had sex with. If a man doesn't care enough about me to respect that, then he isn't a man I want to have sex with. Not that I go around having sex all that often. Seldom, actually because I'm not interested in just sex, but a relationship. If anyone has a problem with that, tough tootsies, because I'm talking about me and my body and my life. Which I happen to respect. I have to respect myself or no one else will. There is stuff out there besides HIV and AIDS, and I don't want any of them.
BOTTOM LINE....educaton, knowing, and knowing before mistakes are made.
we have come a long way, but not long enough yet. Praying it will be soon. Hang in there. JoeJoe
I mean, God-forbid we practice abstainance. Your age doesn't matter. Your race doesn't really matter either. A virus or any form of disease is impartial. Your best bet is a good education warning of this fact. Oh and the wisdom to practice abstainance should be applied LIBERALLY Oh but of course, that's no fun. It's rude to insult the elderly but in this case I'll make an exception: Why are you so stupid to think you get a free pass? I'm sorry for that curse you've acquired but honestly! Half of our mistakes are caused by our own decisions kiddies, grow up.
I thought circumcision was supposed to prevent HIV infection?