Other Body1 KnowCo's: Empower your Life™
Back1 Dental1 Diabetes1 Fibroids1 Heart1 Knee1 MedTech1 Reflux1 Shoulder1 Uterus1 Veins1 Wounds1
Body1
 Register
 Login
 Main Page
 Education Center
Conditions
Diagnostics
Procedures
Find a Physician
First Aid
Online Resources
Dr. William Tamborlane  Health Care
 Hero™

Dr. William Tamborlane:
Insulin Pump Pioneer.
About Heroes
 Join the Discussion in  Our Forums
 Health Community
Forums
Health Blogs
 Health News
Health Feature
Latest Health News
Life Stories
Symptom Checker
Health Calendar
Story of the Day
 Video Library
 International
 Content Syndication
advertisement
advertisement
Search the Body1 Network    
November 20, 2008  
HEALTH NEWS: Health Feature

  • Printer Friendly Version
  • Email this Article
  • Links/Reprints
  • African Americans Likely to Suffer from HIV/AIDS

    African Americans More Likely to Suffer from HIV/AIDS


    April 04, 2006

    By: Seth Hays for Body1

    More than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S., African Americans continue to be hardest hit by new HIV/AIDS cases.

    According to a February Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report, blacks account for 51 percent of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses but represent only 13 percent of the population sampled. Covering 33 states that used confidential, name-based reporting from 2001 to 2004, the CDC report said blacks also represented the largest percentage of HIV/AIDS cases for every age group.

    Learn More
    HIV Rate Facts

    From the CDC Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS Among African Americans


    Studies show an association between higher incidence of AIDS and lower income. One in four African Americans lives in poverty.

    Sexual contact with a male is the leading means of transmission for both African American women and men.

    HIV/AIDS is among the top three causes of death for African American men aged 25-54. For women of the same age, it is in the top four causes of death.

    From 2001 to 2004, the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses for African Americans decreased.


    Broken down by gender, blacks accounted for the greatest percentage of cases diagnosed among males (44 percent) and the majority of cases among females (68 percent), the report said. Although the study did not include all 50 U.S. states, the CDC believes that “the racial/ethnic disparities described in this report are similar to the disparities observed in AIDS cases from all 50 states.”

    Certain areas of the country are feeling the effects of this gap more than others. Recently, New York City has addressed the racial disparity in HIV/AIDS transmission. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden said, “While one in four New Yorkers is African-American, 55 percent of all HIV-related deaths in 2004 were among black adults. HIV is the third leading cause of death for black men and women under the age of 65.”

    Looking at data by gender and age group, the numbers become particularly troubling. One in five black men aged 40 to 49 living on the island of Manhattan is HIV/AIDS positive. HIV prevalence among black women is 27 times that of white women. A black woman is also nine times more likely to die from HIV/AIDS than a white woman.

    Stigma, discrimination and the lack of coordinated systems of services are some of the chief barriers for effective HIV prevention and care for women, according to a December 2005 report from the New York State AIDS Advisory Council.

    The CDC states, “Race and ethnicity, by themselves, are not risk factors for HIV infection.” And even though African Americans are more likely to be tested for HIV/AIDS, they “are more likely to face challenges associated with risk for HIV infection,” including sexual risk factors, denial and socioeconomic issues.

    What’s being done

    In New York, Dr. Frieden is working towards the city’s goal to considerably reduce HIV/AIDS deaths among blacks. He proposes aggressive and controversial testing procedures and making tests for the virus a routine part of medical care. He also suggests testing require only verbal consent, rather than the current verbal and written consent. It is important to note that Dr. Frieden stresses he is not proposing mandatory testing or treatment.

    On the national level, the CDC is addressing the racial and ethnic gaps found in its report. “To reduce disparities, partnerships must be enhanced among a broad range of persons and groups, including governmental agencies, community organizations, faith-based institutions, educational institutions, community opinion leaders and the public,” the CDC said.

    In 2005 the CDC organized the African American Working Group “to develop a comprehensive action plan to increase and strengthen HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention.”

    Originally funded by the CDC, the annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is held February 7. Its goals are to increase resources and support for organizations working on HIV/AIDS prevention as well as gather accurate information regarding the disease and its impact on the black community. You can visit the Web site at www.blackaidsday.org for more information.

    The CDC is dedicated to alleviating the ethnic gap in HIV/AIDS transmission. “New and improved prevention strategies, including expanded HIV testing, targeted communications, and tailored prevention services, are needed to help address disparities in HIV transmission among blacks.”

    Last updated: 04-Apr-06

    Comments

  • Add Comment
  •    
    Interact on Body1

    Discuss this topic with others.
     
    Feature Archives
    Health Feature Archives

    Eating Fish may Reduce Risk of Dementia

    Feeling Fatigued? Take a Walk

    Why the FDA May Regulate Salt

    The Politics of Healthcare

    Clever Harvard Pain Study Puts Chile Peppers in the Limelight

    Next 5 Features ...

    More Features...

     
    Related Multimedia

    HIV Replication 3D Animation

     
    Related Content
    African American Women and Uterine Fibroids

    Black Women More Likely to Die of Breast Cancer

    Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS)

    Drugs May Reduce Mom-To-Baby AIDS

    Americans in the Dark about Shingles

    More Features ...
     
    Home About Us Press Jobs Advertise With Us Contact Us
    advertisement
    ©1999- 2008 Body1, Inc. All rights reserved.
    Disclaimer: The information provided within this website is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for consultation with your physician or healthcare provider. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Owners and Sponsors of this site. By using this site you agree to indemnify, and hold the Owners and Sponsors harmless, from any disputes arising from content posted here-in.
    See our Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, our Advertising Policy and our Editorial Policy.