HIV Impact Overview
Impact of HIV on Communities of Color
Over the past several years, HIV/AIDS has moved aggressively into communities of color. In 2005, although African Americans made up only 12% of the total U.S. population, they represented 47% of HIV/AIDS cases. Furthermore, African American males had more than eight times the AIDS rate of white males, and African American females had more than 23 times the AIDS rate of white females. In addition, African American men were more than nine times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as white men, and African American women were 21 times more likely to die from HIV/AIDS than white women.
Hispanics accounted for 18% of HIV/AIDS cases in 2005; Hispanic males had more than 3 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white males, and Hispanic females had more than 5 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white females. Hispanic men were more than 2.6 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white men, and Hispanic women were more than 4 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white women.
Although the Native American population infection rates are not as high as those of African Americans and Hispanics, studies and treatment data show an alarming increase in infection rates among this population. As of December 2005, the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) population has seen a 54% increase in those living with HIV. As a result, there needs to be an ongoing effort to reduce infection rates and to increase the development of culturally competent treatment approaches as well as effective prevention methodologies.
However, the problem of HIV/AIDS among minorities is exacerbated by the fact that there already exists an alarming disparity in access to comprehensive healthcare between minorities and whites. More specifically, accessing health care can be a daunting challenge for minorities with HIV/AIDS because the health care system itself can be a source of stigma. Clinicians, who infrequently encounter people living with HIV/AIDS, may be insensitive to stigma-related concerns. Surprisingly enough, there are clinicians who do not fully understand the nature of the HIV cell and how it affects healthy cells. According to an American Civil Liberties Union study, some clinicians may be unclear on their legal obligation to treat a patient with AIDS. Stigma also prevents people from testing for HIV and from accessing ancillary and other support services.