HIV/AIDS is again ravaging the US, particularly women, and nobody is talking about it. Silently it grows. Help us break the silence.

The Epidemic on the rise –

• Today, more than 1.1 million people in the US are estimated to be living with HIV1 (it is estimated that more than 500,000 of those living with HIV are black.)2
• Every 9.5 minutes someone in the US is infected with HIV.3

Disproportionate impact on women of color –

• Although African Americans account for only 13%4 of the population of the US, they account for 49% or almost half of new AIDS diagnosis.5
• In 2006, black women account for 61% of the new HIV infections –nearly 15 times that of their white counterparts.6
• In 2006, black women accounted for 66% of new AIDS cases, while white and Latina accounted for 17% and 16% of new AIDS cases7
• By far the primary means of transmission for women of color is heterosexual contact8
• Many African Americans say that HIV is not an issue in their community –that it’s a white, gay, male disease, despite being disproportionally affected.9

Why there is need for The Silence Is Broken –

• Even though the CDC recently announced that after a recalculation there were in excess of 40% more new HIV infections each year than previously reported, a new survey by the Kaiser Foundation found that “American’s sense of urgency about HIV/AIDS as a national health problem has fallen dramatically and their concern about HIV as a personal risk has also declined, even among some groups at higher risk.”10
• In 1995 44% of Americans named HIV/AIDS as the most urgent health problem, in 2006 that number dropped to 17%, today it is 6%.11

Popular Misconceptions and Stigma –

• 1/3 (34%) of Americans incorrectly believe or are unsure whether HIV can be transmitted by one of the following actions: sharing a drinking glass (27%), touching a toilet seat (17%), or swimming in a pool with an HIV positive person (14%).12
• “Nearly one in five (18%) do not know there is no cure for AIDS…”13
• One quarter (27%) believe or are unsure whether former professional basketball player Magic Johnson has been cured of AIDS.14
• About one quarter (24%) believe or are unsure whether there is a vaccine available to prevent HIV infection.15
• 51% of Americans say they would be uncomfortable having their food prepared by an HIV positive person.16
Coverage of HIV/AIDS in the media – • In 2004, 70% of people studied said they heard, read or saw “a lot” or “some” coverage on HIV/AIDS in the US. In 2009, that number has dropped to 45%.17

The Purpose of The Silence Is Broken –

• Breaking the silence where you live, work, play and worship – will help stop the spread of HIV by:18
- Changing the perception about HIV/AIDS
- Eroding stigma
- Encouraging people to get tested and seek treatment
- Motivating people to engage in healthy behaviors


Footnotes:

1 CDC, MMWR, Vol. 57, No. 39; 2008.
2 McQuillan GM et. al. NCHS Data Brief No. 4; January 2008.
3 CDC Presentation by R. Wolitsky, Washington DC; January 2009.
4 U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 Population Estimates.
5 CDC, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, Vol. 18; 2008.
6 CDC, MMWR, Vol. 57, No.36; 2008.
7 CDC, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, Vol. 18; 2008.
8 Id.
9 Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, last modified March 2007.
10 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation News Release dated April 28, 2009
11 Id.
12 Id.
13 Id.
14 Id.
15 Id.
16 Id.
17 Id.
18 National Minority Aids Council. African Americans, Health Disparities and HIV/AIDS: Recommendations for Confronting the Epidemic in Black America, December 22, 2006. Available at www.nmac.org.