This is often referred to as vertical transmission. If the woman breast feeds her baby, she may also transmit HIV during feeding. Adults with mental retardation may be the victims of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. In the age of safer sex, some people refuse to take precautions. Sometimes, their sexual partners are adults with mental retardation.
People living in group settings, as well as people living independently, are at risk.
Blood tests for HIV antibodies are widely available throughout the United States. This test confirms the presence of HIV antibodies. Both tests are highly reliable, as they are 99.6 percent accurate. This is the time period between a person's being exposed to the virus and having a positive antibody test. This time may extend from a few weeks to several months.