CLUW members at Labor Cares HIV/AIDS health fair

Black Americans account for half of all new AIDS cases in 2001

The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be a major health crisis facing the African-American community. Although African Americans make up about 12 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for half of the new HIV cases reported in the United States in 2001. AIDS is the leading cause of death among African-American women ages 25-34.

women

The number of women with HIV and AIDS has been steadily increasing.

From 1985 to 1998, the proportion of reported U.S. AIDS cases occurring among women increased from 7 percent to 23 percent.

Females over the age of 15 comprise about 44 percent of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS around the world.

AIDS deaths among men in the U.S. have fallen by 15 percent, but they have risen three percent among women.

In nine cities, AIDS is the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 22 and 44. The nine cities are: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Unfortunately, HIV infection disproportionately affects women of color, with African Americans and Latina women bearing the burden of this disease. Here are some alarming facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Among women, African Americans and Hispanics account for 77 percent of HIV cases.

Eighty one percent of the new AIDS cases among women in this country in 1998 were among African Americans (62 percent) and Latinas (19 percent).

Compared to white women, African American women are 20 times more likely to contract AIDS; Latinas are 7 times more likely.

African American and Latina women, often without resources or health insurance, are shouldering much of the HIV/AIDS burden.