Although HIV diagnoses have declined among most HIV risk groups, non-Hispanic blacks continue to be disproportionately affected, according to new data presented at the 13th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections by Dr. Tonji Durant and her colleagues at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since 2000, a total of 33 states have been reporting new HIV diagnoses to the HIV/AIDS Reporting System (HARS). From 2001 to 2004, there were an estimated 156,052 new HIV diagnoses reported to HARS. Blacks accounted for 51% of these diagnoses. However, non-Hispanic blacks only account for 13% of the general population in these states. Non-Hispanic whites accounted for 29% of these diagnoses, yet make up 72% of the general population in these states.
From 2001 to 2004, the annual incidence of new HIV diagnoses remained stable among non-Hispanic blacks. Among non-Hispanic black adolescent and adult males, including black men who have sex with men, the annual incidence of new HIV diagnoses also remained stable. However, among non-Hispanic black females, a significant decline (-5.34%) was reported from 2001 to 2004. Significant declines among non-black injection drug users (-9.72%) and heterosexual transmission (-4.93%) were also reported.
Dr. Durant's group concluded that blacks still account for most new HIV diagnoses and are disproportionately affected. Fortunately, however, the incidence of new HIV diagnoses among blacks seems to be remaining stable or decreasing.
Source: Durant T, Satcher A, Prejean J, et al. Trends in HIV diagnosis among non-Hispanic black Americans, 2001-2004 [Abstract 27]. 13th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Denver, 2006.
