The Rise in HIV in the Teenage African American Population

Abstract

More than 230,000 Africans Americans have died of Aids (CDC, 2011). Young population, especially African American is at great risk of becoming carrier, and get affected by HIV. This paper aims at putting light on HIV, stats related to African American population particularly teenagers and why this is the case. We will also suggest what can be done to break the status quo.

Table of Contents

Introduction1

HIV and AIDS- A snapshot1

Transmission of Disease1

Sexual Transmission2

Drug Use2

Statistics2

Solution3

Conclusion4

References6

The Rise in HIV in the Teenage African American Population

Introduction

HIV and AIDS- A snapshot

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a type of sexually transmitted disease, affecting people throughout the globe. This disease destroys the immune system of the body, and as a result, people get serious infections they otherwise would not have.

There is no cure developed yet for HIV AIDS. However, if the disease is identified, people can live better lives and can help in preventing it to spread further.

Transmission of Disease

The virus is spread through Blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. Mere shaking hands, hugging or kissing cannot transmit HIV. Doctors call it "high-risk behaviors", which results in transmission of HJIV. It includes:

Involving in Unprotected sex (vaginal, oral, anal), where unprotected means without condom.

Sharing needles (for medical, piercing, tattooing or drug use).

Mothers can transfer the disease to their child at the time of birth or breast feeding. Therefore, every woman should be tested for HIV when getting pregnant.

Sexual Transmission

Having discussed the means of transmission; let's particularly focus on the reasons that numbers attribute to. Irrespective of gender, unprotected sex is the leading cause of HIV infection in African American population. In 2008, more than half of the African American males, who got HIV, got it from their MSM partner (CDC, 2011). In between, 2001 and 2006 the indication of HIV among black MSM in the age bracket of 13-24 increased by more than 93 percent.

Young MSM partner with older men, and get the disease from there. Having little knowledge, they are likely to be unaware of this disease and don't even take precautions. Therefore, even after getting affected, they are likely to be ignorant of that fact, that they are affected with HIV. Causing wide spread of it.

Drug Use

The second most likely reason for transmission of HIV in Africans Americans is injecting drug use. In 2008, it accounted for 18 percent cases among this ethnic group (Valle & Levy, 2008). Drug users also get involved in some other related crimes like prostitution to acquire funds for this habit. Sex workers are less likely to demand use of condom with such people, which ultimately leads to more wide spread of HIV.

Statistics

African American make up only 13 percent of the US population, yet the estimated lifetime estimate of becoming infected by HIV is 1 in 15 for black males, and 1 in 30 for black females. The Young people are at greater ...