HIV/AIDS among African Americans and HIV/AIDS Advocacy

HIV/AIDS Impact on African Americans

The Facts

            Of all the race/ethinicities that exist in the United States, African Americans are the most affected by HIV/AIDS (CDC, 2011). Regardless of only representing 14% of the U.S. population, African Americans made up nearly 44% of all newly diagnosed HIV infections in 2009 (CDC, 2011). A race that is severely burdened by HIV/AIDS, African Americans represent the highest proportions of HIV infections at all stages of the disease; from new infections to deaths (CDC,2011).

The Numbers

           

·        Black men represented about 70% of the estimated new infections of HIV among all blacks in 2009 (CDC, 2011)

·        Black men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for about 73% of new infections among all Black men in 2009 (CDC, 2011).

·        Black women represent about 30% of the estimated new infections of HIV among all blacks in 2009 (CDC, 2011).

The Diagnosis & Deaths

·        About 16, 741 blacks were diagnosed with AIDS in the U.S. in 2009 (CDC, 2011).

·        About 240,627 blacks with an AIDS diagnosis died by the end of 2008 (CDC, 2008)

The Prevention Challenges

African Americans deal with numerous challenges that add to the higher rates of HIV infection (CDC, 2011), some of which include:

·        A greater risk of HIV infection with each new sexual partner of the same race/ethnicity, due to a high prevalence of the disease within the African American community (CDC, 2011).

·        African Americans continuously experiences higher rates of STIs compared to other race and ethnic groups (CDC, 2011).

·        Socioeconomic status associated with poverty, access to quality health care, housing, and HIV prevention education (CDC, 2011)

·        Lack of awareness of HIV status, stigma, fear, discrimination, homophobia, and negative perceptions about HIV testing can also place African Americans at a higher risk for HIV infection (CDC, 2011).

National Advocacy:

The White House released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) On July 13, 2010 (AIDs.gov, 2012). This is the nation's first-ever comprehensive coordinated HIV/AIDS roadmap with clear and measurable targets to be achieved by 2015 (AIDs.gov, 2012).

The Vision for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy is:

            The United States will become a place where new HIV infections are rare and        when they do occur, every person regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual        orientation, gender identity or socio-economic circumstance, will have unfettered     access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination -           (AIDs.gov, 2012)

National Strategy in Action:

Read about how communities are taking action through the National Strategy:

http://blog.aids.gov/category/policy/national-hivaids-strategy/strategy-in-action

Kentucky Advocacy:

           

·        33% of cumulative HIV disease cases, as of June 30, 2011, in Kentucky are African Americans (KCFHS, 2011)

·        Among females in Kentucky, majority of all concurrent HIV diagnosis were black females 56% (KCFHS, 2011)

The Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Action Group is a coalition of groups concerned about the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the often unrecognized impact that the infection has on all Kentucky citizens (khaag.org, 2012)

KHAAG membership includes people living with HIV/AIDS, medical and support care providers, representatives of payor organizations, community group leaders, and allied organizations (khaag.org, 2012)

KHAAG works to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Commonwealth with the goal of ensuring that those not infected with HIV/AIDS remain so and those living with HIV/AIDS receive the care and support that they need to lead rewarding lives (khaag.org, 2012).

KHAAG Work in Action:

Read about Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Action Group’s recent collaborative success efforts in HIV/AIDS Drugs:

http://community.kyequality.org/2010/12/victory-kentucky-aids-drug-assistance.html

Louisville Advocacy:

           

·        Louisville Metro-Jefferson County has 3,633 cumulative HIV diagnosis cases as of June 30, 2011 (KCFHS, 2012).

In Louisville, KY, a local non-profit organization advocates for HIV/AIDs throughout the city. House of Ruth is a community-based organization caring for families and individuals with or affected by HIV/AIDS (houseofruth.net, 2012). House of Ruth provides a holistic client-centered approach for housing and advocacy programs (houseofruth.net, 2010). This includes: life skills, children’s programs and other support services to help strengthen lives (houseofruth.net, 2010).

  

House of Ruth in Action:

In July 1995, House of Ruth employees collaborated with two physicians at University of Louisville to begin a one-stop clinic for women and children affected by HIV (houseofruth.net, 2010). It began one day per month and has grown steadily, expanding to a daily clinic for all HIV positive persons funded with the award of a federal grant (houseofruth.net, 2010). The clinic is called WINGS and is a part of the U of L system (houseofruth.net, 2010).

References:

1. CDC. 2011. HIV among African Americans. HIV/AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/index.htm

2. AIDS.gov. 2012. Strategy in Action. blog.AIDS.gov. U.S> Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from: http://blog.aids.gov/category/policy/national-hivaids-strategy/strategy-in-action

3. KCHFS. 2011. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report. KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Department of Health. HIV/AIDS Branch. Retrieved from: http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/CF3F3F11-F0EF-4376-9C88-AFF638743651/0/Annual_Report_June2011.pdf

4. khaag.org.2012. Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Action Group. Retrieved from: http://khaag.org/

5. HouseofRuth. 2010. About House of Ruth. Retrieved from: http://www.houseofruth.net/index.htm