Are You HIV Positive?
June 26, 2009 by blackgirlgrown
Filed under black women, health and wellness, hiv and aids
If you can’t confidently answer no, your health is in risk. We’ve discussed the ravages of HIV/AIDS in the African American community, especially in Black women. But for some reason a lot of us keep our heads in the sand. Yes, it’s incredibly scary. But knowledge kills fear. June 27th is National HIV Testing Day. You can go almost anywhere in your city/area to get tested. Know your status, and that of your partner.
More stats for the hard-headed from the Kaiser Foundation:
- Although Black Americans represent only 12% of the U.S. population,12 they account for half of AIDS cases diagnosed in 2006 (Figure 1).1,11 Blacks also account for 45% of new HIV infections (24,900 of 56,300 total new infections) and 46% of people living with HIV disease in 2006.
- The AIDS case rate per 100,000 among Black adults/adolescents was more than 9 times that of whites in 2006 (Figure 2).1,13 The AIDS case rate for Black men (82.9) was the highest of any group, followed by Black women (40.4). By comparison, the rate among white men was 11.2.1,13 The rate of new infections is also highest among Blacks and was 7 times greater than the rate among whites in 2006.
- HIV-related deaths and HIV death rates are highest among Blacks. Blacks accounted for 56% of deaths due to HIV in 20046 and their survival time after an AIDS diagnosis is lower on average than it is for most other racial/ethnic groups.1 In 2004, Black men had the highest HIV death rate per 100,000 men aged 25–44 at 39.9; it was 5.5 for white men. The HIV death rate among Black women aged 25–44 was 23.1 compared to 1.3 for white women.
- HIV was the 4th leading cause of death for Black men and 3rd for Black women, aged 25–44, in 2005, ranking higher than for their respective counterparts in any other racial/ethnic group.
- Black women account for the largest share of new HIV infections among women (61% in 2006) and the incidence rate among Black women is nearly 15 times the rate among white women.
- Black women account for the majority of new AIDS cases among women (66% in 2006); white and Latina women account for 17% and 16% of new AIDS cases, respectively.
- Black women represent more than a third (36%) of AIDS cases diagnosed among Blacks (Black men and women combined) in 2006; by comparison, white women represent 15% of AIDS cases diagnosed among whites in 2006.
