National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

The AIDS epidemic has hit the African American community especially hard. While African Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, they account for almost 50% of the AIDS cases, making HIV the number one killer for those between the ages of 25 and 44.¹ On February 7, National Black HIV Awareness Day, we commemmorate the people we have lost to HIV and empower ourselves through knowledge.

Factors that fuel the spread of HIV among African-Americans include lack of quality health care, inadequate education and poverty. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative, Healthy People 2010, states explicitly that "inequalities in income and education underlie many health disparities in the United States" and that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to reduce or eliminate these disparities. ²

A survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that African Americans were the only racial/ethnic group to name HIV/AIDS as the number-one domestic health problem. Additional findings revealed that 43 percent of the African Americans surveyed were personally “very concerned” about becoming infected with HIV, as compared to only 10 percent of whites. Unfortunately, this concern has not always translated into early HIV testing for African Americans. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that African Americans tend to be diagnosed with HIV infection much later and often at a more advanced stage of their illnesses. ³

There is hope

Despite the sobering statistics, there is hope. Public interest in meaningful bio-medical research, including development of an HIV vaccine and microbicides, as well as other treatment advances for persons living with HIV/AIDS, is gaining support. At the HVTN, the Legacy Project works to dispel certain myths about HIV in communities of color. Our goal is to increase the participation of African Americans and Hispanics in HIV vaccine trials and assure that a future HIV vaccine will work for the populations most affected by the virus.

The development of new drug therapies is making HIV infection and AIDS increasingly more manageable. There is a resurgence of broad-based activism along with invigorated political, intellectual, and religious leadership. Additionally, advancements in new HIV prevention strategies, including pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and the role of potential precipitators, such as a lack of circumcision and concurrent sexual partnerships, are being recognized and investigated. ⁴

picture of African American father and son Facts on HIV & African-Americans

HIV-related deaths and HIV death rates are highest among Blacks.
More than 2% of Blacks in the U.S. (among those aged 18-49) are HIV positive, higher than other groups. ⁵
The survival time after an AIDS diagnosis is lower on average for African Americans than it is for other racial/ethnic groups.
Black women account for the vast majority of new AIDS cases among women (67% in 2005). ⁶
Although Black teens (aged 13-19) represent only 15% of U.S. teenagers, they accounted for 73% of new AIDS cases reported among teens in 2004. ⁷
About one-fourth of all people with HIV have not yet been diagnosed and are unaware of their infection. ⁸

HIV can be prevented! What you can do: picture of African American couple

Get tested for HIV
If you are HIV-positive, please get appropriate care
If you are HIV-negative, consider participating in a vaccine trial
Talk to your partners about safe sex
Get educated about how HIV is spread from person to person
Get involved in your local community in raising awareness of HIV

Sources:
¹ Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services
^{2, 4} National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, Why We Can't Wait: The Tipping Point for HIV/AIDS Among African Americans, 2007.
³ National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, A Turning Point: Confronting HIV/AIDS in African American Communities, December 8, 2005.
^{5, 6, 7} Kaiser Family Foundation
⁸ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Explore further:	National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day The AIDS epidemic has hit the African American community especially hard. While African Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, they account for almost 50% of the AIDS cases, making HIV the number one killer for those between the ages of 25 and 44.¹ On February 7, National Black HIV Awareness Day, we commemmorate the people we have lost to HIV and empower ourselves through knowledge. Factors that fuel the spread of HIV among African-Americans include lack of quality health care, inadequate education and poverty. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative, Healthy People 2010, states explicitly that "inequalities in income and education underlie many health disparities in the United States" and that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to reduce or eliminate these disparities. ² A survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that African Americans were the only racial/ethnic group to name HIV/AIDS as the number-one domestic health problem. Additional findings revealed that 43 percent of the African Americans surveyed were personally “very concerned” about becoming infected with HIV, as compared to only 10 percent of whites. Unfortunately, this concern has not always translated into early HIV testing for African Americans. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that African Americans tend to be diagnosed with HIV infection much later and often at a more advanced stage of their illnesses. ³ There is hope Despite the sobering statistics, there is hope. Public interest in meaningful bio-medical research, including development of an HIV vaccine and microbicides, as well as other treatment advances for persons living with HIV/AIDS, is gaining support. At the HVTN, the Legacy Project works to dispel certain myths about HIV in communities of color. Our goal is to increase the participation of African Americans and Hispanics in HIV vaccine trials and assure that a future HIV vaccine will work for the populations most affected by the virus. The development of new drug therapies is making HIV infection and AIDS increasingly more manageable. There is a resurgence of broad-based activism along with invigorated political, intellectual, and religious leadership. Additionally, advancements in new HIV prevention strategies, including pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and the role of potential precipitators, such as a lack of circumcision and concurrent sexual partnerships, are being recognized and investigated. ⁴ Facts on HIV & African-Americans HIV-related deaths and HIV death rates are highest among Blacks. More than 2% of Blacks in the U.S. (among those aged 18-49) are HIV positive, higher than other groups. ⁵ The survival time after an AIDS diagnosis is lower on average for African Americans than it is for other racial/ethnic groups. Black women account for the vast majority of new AIDS cases among women (67% in 2005). ⁶ Although Black teens (aged 13-19) represent only 15% of U.S. teenagers, they accounted for 73% of new AIDS cases reported among teens in 2004. ⁷ About one-fourth of all people with HIV have not yet been diagnosed and are unaware of their infection. ⁸ HIV can be prevented! What you can do: Get tested for HIV If you are HIV-positive, please get appropriate care If you are HIV-negative, consider participating in a vaccine trial Talk to your partners about safe sex Get educated about how HIV is spread from person to person Get involved in your local community in raising awareness of HIV Related Links: Statement of Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institutes of Health CDC Fact Sheet on HIV/AIDS among African Americans National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day BlackAIDS.org Black Women's Health Imperative BlackHealthCare.com Sources: ¹ Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services ^{2, 4} National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, Why We Can't Wait: The Tipping Point for HIV/AIDS Among African Americans, 2007. ³ National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, A Turning Point: Confronting HIV/AIDS in African American Communities, December 8, 2005. ^{5, 6, 7} Kaiser Family Foundation ⁸ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention