On Sep 13, 1:59=A0am, Fritz Wuehler
wrote:
> http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/09/12/hiv.blacks.gays/
>
> ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Young black gay men, black women and
> white gay men in their 30s and 40s are much more likely to be
> newly infected with HIV than other groups in the United States,
> according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control
> and Prevention.
>
> The analysis -- based on figures showing that the HIV infection
> rate for 2006 is much worse than previously thought -- looks at
> the number of new HIV infections and who gets them. The study
> appears in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
>
> It shows 53 percent of the estimated 56,000 cases of new HIV
> infection in 2006 were among gay and bi.ual men, and 46
> percent of the infections occurred among blacks. Within the gay
> and bi.ual group, young black men (13 to 29 years old ) were
> roughly twice as likely to get infected as young white and young
> Hispanic men. And among women, black women were almost 15 times
> more likely to get HIV than white women and almost four times
> more likely than Hispanic women.
>
> These new figures -- highlighting which age, gender and racial
> groups are at higher risk -- are based on data released by the
> CDC in August. Those numbers showed that new HIV infections for
> 2006 were 40 percent higher than the CDC had previously
> estimated. =A0See the new analysis of HIV data =BB
>
> "The new analysis include a wealth of information, but there are
> three big take-aways," according to Dr. Kevin Fenton, director
> of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB
> Prevention at the CDC.
>
> "First, the number of new HIV infections among young black [gay
> and bi.ual men] is alarming and shows the need to reach each
> new generation with prevention early in their lives. Second, the
> heavy impact of HIV infection in white [gay and bi.ual men] in
> older age groups demonstrates the need for ongoing efforts to
> keep gay and bi.ual men HIV-free over the course of their
> lifetime. A third finding: compared to women of all races, black
> women bear the heaviest burden of HIV," Fenton said.
>
> The higher rate of new HIV infections among young gay black men
> and black women comes as no surprise to Phill Wilson, the CEO
> and founder of Black AIDS Institute, a think-tank based in Los
> Angeles, California. "Basically, it affirms what we have known
> for a long time and what we have been telling the CDC for a very
> long time," Wilson said.
>
> "AIDS in America continues to be a black disease as manifested
> by the numbers," Wilson said. "We have an epidemic that is 40
> percent worse than we thought, and African-Americans are grossly
> disproportionately impacted. Particularly black women and young
> black gay men."
>
> The CDC study didn't examine the specific factors that account
> for the heavy burden of HIV among young black gay men, but the
> CDC has theories.
>
> "Other data suggest a range of possible factors," said Richard
> Wolitski, acting director, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at
> CDC.
>
> "They include stigma, lack of access to effective HIV prevention
> services and underestimation of personal risk. In addition, many
> younger men have not personally experienced the severity of the
> early AIDS epidemic."
>
> Wolitski said differences in the frequency of high-risk .ual
> behavior and substance use do not account for this disparity.
>
> White gay and bi.ual men account for close to half, or 46
> percent, of HIV incidence among gay and bi.ual men, but the
> majority of new infections occurred in men in their 30s,
> followed by men in the 40s, the CDC found.
>
> "A range of factors likely contribute to continued transmission
> in these age groups," said Wolitski, noting the marked
> difference in age at the time of infection in the different
> racial groups. "They include the difficulty of consistently
> maintaining safer behaviors for many years or even decades, as
> well as homophobia, substance abuse and higher HIV prevalence
> within this group."
>
> Among Hispanic gay and bi.ual men, most new infections
> occurred in the young age group, like blacks, but at much lower
> rates.
>
> Black women are also disproportionately at risk of HIV infection.
>
> "Based on the incidence estimates released last month, we
> already know that African Americans overall accounted for 45
> percent of new HIV infection in 2006, while representing only 12
> percent of the U.S. population," Wolitski said. "[The Morbidity
> and Mortality Weekly Report's] data show that while there were
> fewer new HIV infections among black women than there were among
> black men, black women were far more affected by HIV than women
> of other races."
>
> "A range of issues may contribute to the disproportionate HIV
> risk for African-Americans in the United States, including
> poverty, stigma, limited access to health care, [an already
> existing] higher HIV prevalence among African-Americans, higher
> rates of other STDs and drug abuse. Many black women face
> additional challenges such as power imbalances with men in
> .ual relationships, which can limit their ability to protect
> themselves, like using condoms," Wolitski said.
>
> The CDC hopes that these new figures can help it target
> education and prevention efforts to specific populations.
>
> "Today's analysis serves as a powerful reminder that the United
> States epidemic of HIV is far from over and that we all need to
> do more," Fenton said. "The U.S. epidemic will end only when all
> of us -- federal, state and local government; politicians,
> communities, businesses, social and civic organizations;
> schools, families and individuals across the nation -- realize
> that ending AIDS is possible and then collectively commit to
> make that happen."
>
> Wilson, while hopeful that the new figures will bring new
> attention to an old problem, is less sanguine. He notes that the
> U.S. doesn't spend enough resources to end the HIV epidemic,
> that the money doesn't target the groups at highest risk, and
> that it doesn't use organizations with proven track record of
> reaching and mobilizing the black community.
>
> "When it comes to black America, we continue to be an
> afterthought when it comes to HIV prevention," Wilson said.
Well, how about some good old eugenics, then?
F |