For different reasons, African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. The reasons for infection across races are the same, however, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, barriers such as poverty, sexually transmitted disease and stigma may contribute to the higher rates in this population. Prevention and education efforts need to address special populations that are affected at higher rates to help stop the spread of this deadly disease.
Alarming Statistics
According to Avert, 230,000 blacks have died from HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that even though blacks comprise 13 percent of the population in the United States, they comprise 49 percent of those affected by HIV. In addition, blacks have a shorter survival time if they have HIV than other ethnic groups, while it is a leading cause of death for both African American men and women.
African American Men
The risks for African American men include having unprotected sex with another man, sharing needles for drugs, and having unprotected sex with a female, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black men have a one in 16 chance of contracting HIV in their lifetime, while white males have a one in 104 chance, according to Avert.
African American Women
For African American women, the highest risks are having unprotected sex with a man with HIV and sharing needles for injecting drugs. Black females have a one in 30 chance, while white females have a one in 588 chance, according to Avert.
Knowing HIV Status
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are certain risk factors that blacks should be aware of in order to prevent the spread of HIV. Knowing a sexual partner's HIV and STD status can help to prevent HIV. Persons who have sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia have an increased susceptibility for HIV and spread HIV infection more easily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other Issues
Avert suggests that there are other reasons for the disproportionate affects of HIV on African Americans. These include stigma and discrimination against men who have sex with men and against persons with HIV, which can lead to a delay in seeking testing, treatment, or hinder education and prevention measures. In addition, poverty can contribute to high risk behaviors. While the reasons for HIV infections being high in the African American population is complex, there is hope that through prevention and testing programs, persons will become more aware of how to protect themselves.
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