Now in its sixth year, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was created to build awareness of the disproportionate spread of HIV/AIDS among African Americans and to support the prevention, care, and treatment efforts that are needed for curbing the epidemic among this population group. The theme for this year’s National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was “Get Educated! Get Involved! Get Tested! Get Treated!”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV was among the top 3 causes of death for African American men aged 25-54 years and among the top 4 causes of death for African American women aged 25-54 years in 2002. While African Americans make up 12.3% of the US population (according to the 2000 census), they accounted for 50% of the estimated 38,730 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the US during 2004.
The primary way that African American men transmit HIV is through sexual contact with other men, followed by sexual contact with women and injection drug use. The primary way for African American women is through sexual contact with men and injection drug use.
Being African American or minority, by themselves, are not risk factors for HIV infection. Even though HIV testing rates are higher for African Americans than for other racial and ethic groups, African Americans are more likely to face challenges associated with risk for HIV infection, including the following:
Sexual Risk Factors —African American women are most likely to be infected with HIV as a result of sex with men. They may not be aware of their male partners’ possible risks for HIV infection, such as unprotected sex with multiple partners, bisexuality, or injection drug use.
Substance Use — Injection use is the second leading cause of HIV infection for African American women

and the third leading cause of HIV infection for African American men. In addition to being at risk from sharing needles, casual and chronic substance users are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex, when they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Denial — Studies show that a significant number of African American men who have sex with men (MSM) identify themselves as heterosexual. As a result, they may not relate to prevention messages designed for men who identify themselves as homosexual.
Socioeconomic Issues — In 1999, nearly 1 in 4 African Americans were living in poverty. Studies have found an association between higher AIDS incidence and lower income. The socioeconomic problems associated with poverty, including limited access to high-quality health care and HIV prevention education, directly or indirectly increase HIV risk.
In the United States, the annual number of new HIV infections has decreased from a peak of more than 150,000 in the mid-1980s and has stabilized since the late 1990s at approximately 40,000. Populations of minority races and ethnicities are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. To reduce further the incidence of HIV, the CDC is promoting an initiative that has four strategies. They are:
• Making HIV testing a routine part of medical care.
• Making it possible to diagnose HIV infections outside of medical settings.
• Working with HIV-infected persons and their partners to prevent new infections.
• Working to decrease transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies.
In keeping with this year’s theme, your next steps now are to get involved and get tested. If you are found to be positive for HIV, get treated.
For more information about the studies and reports mentioned herein, please visit the CDC’s website:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/afam.htm or email us at editor@healthyh.com.