PREVALENCE OF HIV/AIDS IN BLACK WOMEN

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Black Women

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Black Women

Early in epidemic, HIV infection and AIDS were diagnosed for relatively few black women and female adolescents (although we know now that many black women were infected with HIV through injection drug use but that their infections were not diagnosed). Today, black women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses (Haynes 2007). Women of color are especially affected by HIV infection and AIDS. In 2009 (most recent year for which data are available), HIV infection was Leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25-34 years.

3rd leading cause of death for black women aged 35-44 years.

4th leading cause of death for black women aged 45-54 years.

4th leading cause of death for Hispanic women aged 35-44 years.

In same year, HIV infection was 5th leading cause of death among all black women aged 35-44 years and 6th leading cause of death among all black women aged 25-34 years (Sobo 2004). The only diseases causing more deaths of black women were cancer and heart disease.

STATISTICS

HIV/AIDS in 2010(The following bullets, except for last one, are based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.*)

HIV/AIDS was diagnosed for an estimated 9,708 black women.

High-risk heterosexual contact was source of 80% of these newly diagnosed infections.

Women accounted for 26% of estimated 37,163 diagnoses for adults and adolescents.

Of 126,964 women living with HIV/AIDS, 64% were black, 19% were white, 15% were Hispanic, 1% was Asian or Pacific Islander and less than 1% were American Indian or Alaska Native.

The estimated number of HIV/AIDS in female adults or adolescents decreased from 11,941 in 2006 to 9,708 in 2010.

According to the recent study of more than 19,500 patients with HIV in 10 US cities, black women were slightly less likely than men to receive prescriptions for most effective treatments for HIV infection.

Sex of adults and adolescents with HIV/AIDS diagnosed during 2010

Not: Based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.

Transmission categories and race/ethnicity of women living with HIV/AIDS at end of 2010

Note. Based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.

AIDS in 2010

Of 40,608 AIDS diagnoses in 50 states and District of Columbia, 10,774 (26%) were for black women.

The rate of AIDS diagnosis for black women (45.5/100,000 black women) was approximately 23 times rate for white women (2.0/100,000) and 4 times rate for Hispanic women (11.2/100,000).

An estimated 95,959 black women were living with AIDS, representing 23% of estimated 421,873 people living with AIDS in 50 states and District of Columbia.

An estimated 4,128 black women with AIDS died, representing 25% of 16,316 persons with AIDS who died in 50 states and District of Columbia.

From beginning of epidemic (1981) through 2010, black women accounted for 181,802 diagnoses, the number that represents 19% of 952,629 AIDS diagnoses in 50 states and District of Columbia during this period.

From beginning of epidemic through 2010, an estimated 85,844 black women ...