HIV/AIDS disproportionately impacts African Americans, both nationally and locally. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans accounted for about 21,000, or 50 percent, of the more than 42,000 estimated AIDS cases diagnosed among adults in the United States. Despite evidence that antiretroviral therapy ("the cocktail") is very effective in the treatment of HIV, and delay in the onset of AIDS, the CDC reports "The AIDS diagnosis rate among African Americans was almost 11 times the rate among whites. African-American women had a 23 times greater diagnoses rate than white women. African- American men had almost a 9 times greater rate of AIDS diagnosis than white men."

The Two Silent Factors - Stigma & Complacency
By: Lawrence E. Lewis, MSW
HIV/AIDS Community Coordinator
Office of Minority Health

National FACTS
According to the 2000 Census, African Americans make up 12.3% of the population of the United States. However, they have accounted for 39% - more than 347,000 - of the more than 886,000 estimated AIDS cases diagnosed since the beginning of the epidemic. By the end of December 2002, more than 185,000 African Americans had died with AIDS.
For people diagnosed with AIDS since 1994, African Americans had the poorest survival rates of all racial and ethnic groups, with 55% surviving after 9 years compared to 61% of Hispanics, 64% of whites, and 69% of Asian/ Pacific Islanders.
In 2000, HIV/AIDS was among the top three causes of death for African-American men ages 25-54 and African-American women ages 35-44.
The AIDS diagnosis rate among African Americans was almost 11 times the rate among whites. African-American women had a 23 times greater diagnoses rate than white women. African- American men had almost a 9 times greater rate of AIDS diagnosis than white men.
A study of people diagnosed with HIV found that 56% of "late testers," i.e., those that were diagnosed with AIDS within one year of their HIV diagnosis, were African American. Late testing represents missed opportunities in prevention and treatment of HIV.

The following excerpts come from the Fact sheet - HIV/AIDS Among African Americans: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/Facts/afam.htm

Missouri FACTS

Since 1982, 14,840* HIV-infected Missouri residents (i.e., persons with HIV Disease) have been diagnosed and reported to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Of these 14,840 HIV Disease cases, 9,902* (66.7%) are subcategorized as AIDS cases, and the remaining 4,938* (33.3%) are subcategorized as HIV cases.

Not all HIV-infected persons have been diagnosed nor are they aware of their infection status. It is estimated that the actual number of individuals infected with HIV (i.e., persons with HIV Disease) who are presently living in Missouri is in the approximate range of 9,500 to 13,500 persons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that, nationwide, approximately 30% of HIV-infected persons are not aware that they are infected1 (although a more recent CDC report has indicated that among young gay and bisexual men infected with HIV, the percentage who do not know their infection status may be much higher 21).

In 2003, Blacks made up 55.3% of newly diagnosed HIV cases, 47.2% of newly diagnosed AIDS cases, and 56.8% of the HIV cases that seroconverted to AIDS. Given that Blacks make up only about 11.2% of the state's population, this clearly indicates their very disproportionate representation among HIV-infected persons.

Learn more about HIV/AIDS in your community and how to protect yourself. http://www.dhss.mo.gov/BlackAIDS/ERPhivaids/index.html
Find a place to get tested. http://www.hivtest.org/

Send us a comment.