20% of Teens Unaware They Were Born HIV Positive - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- There is a new alarming statistic concerning the spread of HIV.

About 20 percent of teens born with the virus don't know they're HIV positive when they engage in sexual activities for the first time.

That's according to the National Institute of Health.

The study says caregivers and parents often don't tell the child they're HIV positive until after they reach adolescence.

Teens are also more likely to forego protection while having sex.

Nearly 10,000 people in the U.S. are born with the virus every year.