The African American community suffers from significant health disparities when compared with the population as a whole. HIV/AIDS presents one of the most significant dangers, but community health as a whole requires a broad focus in order to change the alarming health disparity statistics of the African American community.
HIV/AIDS
HIV Basics
Description
AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This virus attacks the immune system, the body's defense against disease and infections. As the immune system breaks down, one becomes susceptible to serious, often deadly infections and cancers called opportunistic infections that take advantage of the body's weakened defenses.
Symptoms
Soon after infection, some people develop short-term flu-like symptoms. People infected with HIV usually show no other symptoms, however, until the disease progresses. Patients with advancing disease can develop swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, anemia and thrush, as well as various opportunistic infections, such as Pneumocystis pneumonia.
Risk Factors
HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected person, by needle-sharing among injection drug users, or through transfusions with infected blood. HIV-infected women can transmit the virus to their newborns before or during birth, or through breast-feeding after birth. Health-care workers can become infected with HIV after being stuck with HIV-tainted needles.
Prevention
People can protect themselves by not engaging in unprotected sex with those who have HIV or whose HIV status is unknown. The most effective sexual protection is the male latex condom. When used correctly and consistently, studies show that male condoms are 98 to 100 percent effective against infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the female condom also offers some protection against HIV and may be used when a male condom cannot be used.
Protection is also important during oral sex, either with a male condom or dental dam, which covers the vagina. People who use injection drugs should use a clean needle each time they inject drugs. Anti-HIV therapy for pregnant women infected with the virus can reduce the risk of mother-to-infant transmission substantially.
Treatment
Thanks in large part to powerful combination therapies that include protease inhibitors, U.S. deaths from the disease have been declining. These drugs don't work for everybody, however, and can have serious side effects.
Back to topHIV Statistics
San Francisco African Americans
- Of the approximately 4,500 African American men who have sex with men (MSM) in San Francisco, an estimated 1500 (33%) are thought to be living with HIV.
- The San Francisco Department of Public Health documented in a report that the Black population in San Francisco has plummeted from 13.4% in 1970 to 6.5% in 2008, yet African Americans, as a percentage of all people diagnosed with AIDS in San Francisco, have risen from 11.4% in 1998 to 18.1% in 2008.
- The San Francisco Department of Public Health estimates that, for African American women in San Francisco over 45 years of age, over 40% have some form of diabetes.
CHARTS
- African American AIDS cases as a percent of total SF cases in 1998: 11.4%
- African American AIDS cases as a percent of total SF cases in 2008: 18.1%
National Statistics
- Almost two-thirds of all women in the United States reported with AIDS are African American.
- AIDS is now the leading cause of death for Black women ages 25-34.
- The percentage of people infected with HIV who don’t know it: 21%
- The HIV infection rate among Blacks was more than 7 times the infection rate among whites in 2006.
- The rate among Black women is 15 times higher than among white women.
- More children with AIDS are Black than all other race and ethnic groups combined.
The estimated rate of HIV/AIDS infection per 100,000 adults by race/ethnicity (2006):
Black — 85.6
Latino — 33.7
White — 9.6
- HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Black women between 25-34 and the second leading cause of death among Black men between 35-44.
- In all communities of color, the largest number of HIV/AIDS cases is among men who have sex with men (MSM). In 2006, MSM comprised 53% of all new HIV infections.
- Blacks represent 45% of all new HIV infections in the United States, though comprising only 12% of the population.
- In 2006, Black teens accounted for 60% of AIDS cases reported among 13-19 year olds. Latino teens represented 19%.
