HIV/AIDS -- The African American Population

As an African American, I find it extremely important to remain healthy, many diseases’ such as: high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart disease run prevalent within our community. However, of all diseases that plague us the most, HIV/AIDS has been the culprit of many deaths within our community. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV and AIDS have hit African Americans the hardest. The reasons are not directly related to race or ethnicity, but rather to some of the barriers faced by many African Americans. These barriers can include poverty (being poor), sexually transmitted diseases, and stigma (negative attitudes, beliefs, and actions directed at people living with HIV/AIDS or directed at people who do things that might put them at risk for HIV). When we look at HIV/AIDS by race and ethnicity, we see that African Americans have (Prevention 2007)

• More illness. Even though blacks (including African Americans) account for about 13% of the US population, they account for about half (49%) of the people who get HIV and AIDS.
• Shorter survival times. Blacks with AIDS often don’t live as long as people of other races and ethnic groups with AIDS. This is due to the barriers mentioned above.
• More deaths. For African Americans and other blacks, HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death.

It can also be noted that the lack of knowledge about the disease plays a major role in the spread of the disease. A majority of the African American community are unaware of the actual causes that HIV/AIDS have on them. Lack of knowledge also contributes to the statistics of infected persons being so high. I do believe that implementation of knowledge about the disease and preventative care should be given throughout areas in which this disease is more prevalent.

Prevention, C. f. (2007). HIV/AIDS and African Americans. Atlanta: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention .