HIV Risk Survey: 1 In 22 African Americans Will Get HIV, CDC Says

ATLANTA — Health officials estimate that 1 in 22 black Americans will be diagnosed with the AIDS virus in their lifetime – more than twice the risk for Hispanics and eight times that of whites.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the numbers Thursday. The report says the lifetime risk is 1 in 52 for Hispanics, and 1 in 170 for whites.

Asian-Americans had the lowest lifetime risk, at about 1 in 222.

The data is not considered surprising. Earlier research has shown blacks, especially, have a high risk of HIV infection.

The estimates are based on 2007 death certificates, population figures and HIV surveillance data from 37 states and Puerto Rico. They update similar calculations reported two years ago.

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Online:

CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

Comments

[tindo]

07:03 PM on 11/25/2010

Did anyone actually look at this data before buying it? The cdc is saying that, while HIV infections are decreasing, in the future more black people will get HIV than people have HIV at all in America now. There is a serious flaw to that.

1/22 of black americans = approx 1.8 million. The number of Americans (of all races) living with HIV today (according to the CDC) = 1.1 million. The CDC has also stated that HIV infections are overall decreasing.

How is it they are now saying 1 in 22 black people will get HIV when that equates to more than ALL people with HIV in America right now..AND HIV infections are decreasing. That math isnt correct.

[Then again, this is the same CDC that said 1 in 6 black americans would have AIDS and 1 in 3 gay americans would have aids back in 1990, and that claimed last year that 50% of black women had herpes...all debunked by the way...anyone else seeing a pattern to their claims?]

[rct0712]

10:01 PM on 10/15/2010

about a black man or woman that is not throwing a ball, singing a song or entertaining in some manner.

There are many accomplished, educated, healthy black people who get lost in the fray of the media's need to promote a "bogey man" for the rest of America to despise. So, Muslims, I guess you guys get a pass this week. Latinos, you are next.

[rct0712]

10:01 PM on 10/15/2010

Also, think about all of the friends and relatives that you could invite to a wedding. It can go well over 200 people very quickly. So, the point I am trying to make is. We are all just a stone's throw away from contracting the HIV virus if we are not diligent in our own health and sexual practices, or drug use. Studies like this are very dangerous for three reasons: 1) Non blacks may gain a false sense of security and even a self righteous attitude (as I have seen on this forum) about their chances of contracting the virus 2) Blacks, who are often stereotyped are just pigeon holed into yet another negative light and Last, the article does not address the real issue which is the spread of the AIDS virus and our need as a Nation and a world to be educated about its realities.

So, all of the people who are being a bit insensitive and self righteous towards blacks who find this article and the CDC study to be under-inclusive, unfair and definitely biased. Just think how you would feel if every story about your race or ethnic group had some negative connotation attached to it. You don't have to agree with me, but at least acknowledge that with all of the positive accomplishments that black people have made and contribute to this country. Its quite ironic that its extremely rare to hear a good story

[rct0712]

10:01 PM on 10/15/2010

This is where we must use our intellect. The CDC did not say that whites, Asian or even Latinos were not in danger of contracting the virus. They just said that out of the ethnic groups, blacks seem to be reported with the highest incidents. Whites are 1 in 170, Asians are 1 in 222, and Hispanics 1 in 52 which is equally alarming. Yes, blacks are at a higher risk in this respect, but that does not mean that any other etnic group through poor choices, education, awareness (everything that is wrong within the black community) cannot suffer the same fate. Its just saying that their chances are not as high.

But, let us put this in perspective shall we. How many of us know 200 people? You don't think that you do. That is until you sign up for face book. Then all of a sudden you have grown from one friend, to 50 friends to 100 in just one week. For some, its a friend of a friend or family. Some you may have met at a party, or may have dated someone you know but you remained friendly and are now friends.

[rct0712]

10:00 PM on 10/15/2010

I agree with eComment. For those of you who are baffled that African Americans would be upset at this report is not the fact that it lies in some truth. The black community has been aware of a higher incident of HIV in our communities for years and it is due to our socio-economic status, lack of awareness and education and fear of discussing the issue within our religious institutions.

Having said that, however. The issue with this case is when is the last time anyone has read the AIDS statistics of white, and Asian men and women splattered across the internet and broadcast on the nightly news. And, its not just that. Its also the statistics about blacks and marriage, black women and single motherhood. Black people and education, black communities and crime, etc. etc. That is not to say that black people are sticking their heads in the sand in regard to facing some real tough issues within our communities. But, that is saying that seeing that AIDS is still an issue within our society, period should be the focus. Not just one group of human beings.

[Frederick Rhodes]

07:24 AM on 10/15/2010

Not all or most public health officials are promoting circumcision for HIV prevention, only those who are pro circumcision are promoting this superstitious propaganda. It's pseudo-scientific based on religious convictions designed to decieve the ignorant young parents. The real reason for HIV infections in heteorsexual men is the amount of HIV+ prostitutes they are having unprotected reproductive sex with. Circumcision is nothing being that the virus enters through the meatus or urinary track opening or UTI. They are pushing this bullshit on us because they are pissed off that real scientific evidences and observations show that RIC causes life long psychological dysfunctions and are desparately trying to prove that they are not programmed into believing in false gods. Fortunately their manipulate data is compleatly illogical so not all will be fooled. In the meantime, many innocent young men are being sexually traumatised, which will have a huge negative impact on the societies they live in when they grow up.

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

04:18 PM on 10/14/2010

Once again, the MSM points out only the bad things about black people. White people get HIV too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReShmRYggIY {{-_-}}

[jmorgan1981]

05:42 PM on 10/14/2010

Why would you take this as a criticism of black people. It is highlighting the risk rate of contracting the disease, and much of this is due to the unfair social-economics injustices that people face, and that in that it isn't because of color or race, but because people who are impoverished are much more likely to have more unplanned pregnancies, higher rate of STD's, and much more likely to be perpetrators of crime.

People who are better educated, and have a better social-economic status are much less likely to contract diseases, and less likely to have unplanned pregnancies, and much less likely to be incarcerated. This is why people of color are incarcerated at a rate of 3:1 when compared to whites.

Overall it basically means that racial inequality still exists, and it is something that we as a nation need to improve on, to ensure that everyone of any color or ethnicity has a chance at a college education, to be able to get themselves out of poverty. Has nothing to with what is bad about being black.

[cjfranklin]

09:35 PM on 10/15/2010

Well explain Sarah Palin daughter Bristol.She had unprotected sex had a baby out of wedlock and she is celebrated, being paid $30,000 per speech to tell other teenagers about having unprotected sex and is on Dancing With the Stars.She is from a social-economic status.

I disagree with you about it not a criticism to black people, its always a criticism to black people

[cjfranklin]

09:24 PM on 10/15/2010

I agree with you, anything negative we lead the pack. Black women has the highest rate of breast cancer, black has a higher rate or alzheimer, black students score lower than whites. According to research we are the stupidest people on earth.

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

12:13 AM on 10/16/2010

I'm assuming this is sarcasm. {{-_-}}

[Liberterna]

03:33 PM on 10/14/2010

What is the reason? any guesses?

Is it behavioral? they get it on more without protection?

Is it education?

Is it genetic? Is it crazy CIA conspiracy genetically engineered HIV virus?

A little journalistic digging would be nice here.

Statistics without objective analysis can be very dangerous thing, people will draw the wrong conclution from it.

[jmorgan1981]

05:51 PM on 10/14/2010

As someone who studied in quite a few Sociology classes in school, it is due to Social-Economic injustice. When you are impoverished, lacking a full education, and live in a society that still makes it nearly impossible for someone to get out of poverty, the risks for incarceration, STD's, and pregnancy all go up.

It has been shown that the more educated, and financially able a woman is, the more likely it is that she will have fewer children, and have them much later in life. But where their is impoverished women, they get pregnant earlier, and have more children.

Crime follows the same social-economic lines as well.

If you look at all of the statistics, which group of people are the poorest in this country. Which group is incarcerated the most, which group drop out of HS the most. And in each category it is black-males. And this is not a Genetic thing, it is an economic reality that is reinforced by the social structure in this country, the racial inequality.

Education is a big piece. We need to do better.

[jcal2004]

03:15 AM on 10/16/2010

At first I was angry at CDC for publishing this because im black and the stats are already obvious. Also because it doesn't matter if your white, black, hispanic, or whatever because people have unprotected sex. Especially those in college. So why do blacks have a higher statistic?... Then after reading this person's comment and others, I realized both sides are right. Whether black or white, Democrat or Republican, Male or Female both sides have some truths depending on whose shoes your standing on. The future is always better than the present. Does this make sense?

[eComment]

02:50 PM on 10/14/2010

Really? No comments at all? Is this article meant as a warning or just a general FYI? The data was gathered from 37 states? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there 50 states? What states were not included and why? Is the popluation data different? Would that information change the results of this study? What was the criteria of the search? Was any of the collected data rejected? Having been a student of statistics, I find sampled data quite misleading and often incorrect. Who wrote THIS article? The data came from the CDC, but who is the actual AUTHOR of this piece?

THINK people. Everything you read or see on TV isn't true. Challenge the "facts" and see if they hold up. Fact check anyone?

[mindact]

05:48 PM on 10/14/2010

None of those questions you asked has invalidated the data. Stats are just stubborn sometimes. Rather than trying to discredit the data, it's better to understand the root cause of this observation. Risky sexual behavior, the downlow syndrome (exasperated by black homophobia), the high rate of incaretation of black men (due to the unfair criminal justice system), addicts sharing needles. These are the root causes. The 13 states excluded may have been from states with a small propotion of african americans.
Don't get me wrong, it's okay to ask those questions, but I'm not sure you've made any attempts to answer those questions.