AIDS Facts For African Americans.

HIV/AIDS Epidemic among African Americans,

All data is from static’s found on the Center for Disease Control Website as of 2004 so the numbers will have changed drastically. In 2004 African Americans who make up approximately 12% of the US population, accounted for half of the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed. The break down is as follows of the 38,730 diagnosed in 2004 50% were African American, 30% were Caucasian, 18% were Hispanic, 1% Asian Pacific Islander and 1% American Indian/ Alaska Native.
AIDS is becoming the leading cause of death for African Americans it is the second leading cause of death for All African Americans between the ages of 35-44 and the NUMBER ONE cause of death for African American Women between the ages of 25-34. Of the all most 1 million cases of AIDS diagnosed in the US 40% were African Americans. Of the more than half a million people who have died with AIDS 30% were African American. In 2004 more African American children under the age of 13 were living with AIDS than all other races or ethnicities living with AIDS combined.
We have to ask ourselves why this disease is disproportionately affecting the African American community. The numbers are growing at an alarming rate and this disease (HIV/AIDS) is taking a devastating toll on the African American community. We have to begin to discuss prevention as wells as testing. It is estimated that of the 1 Million AIDS cases in America 25% of those affected are unaware of there status.....

We have to ask why we are not getting tested. What can we do to increase awareness and prevention? What are the leading causes of infection? I am afraid to think of what will happen to us as a race if we continue to ignore this and sweep it under the rug. So let’s do something to change the numbers and wake up our communities. You can either be a part of the problem or a part of the solution.