HIV :: Seventh annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Wednesday marks the seventh annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which aims to encourage blacks to get tested for HIV, to become educated about the virus and to receive treatment if necessary.

According to CDC data from 33 states published in November 2005 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the rate of new HIV cases among blacks has decreased an average of 5% annually since 2001, declining from 88.7 cases per 100,000 people in 2001 to 76.3 cases per 100,000 in 2004. However, blacks in 2004 were 8.4 times more likely than whites to be newly diagnosed with HIV. Blacks — who make up about 12.3% of the U.S. population — in 2004 accounted for about 49% of the estimated number of reported AIDS cases nationwide.

In addition, HIV/AIDS in 2002 was the leading cause of death for black women ages 25 to 34; was among the top three causes of death for black men ages 25 to 54; and was among the top four causes of death for black women ages 25 to 54.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is sponsored by the Community Capacity Building Coalition, a consortium of national minority-focused groups supported by CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.


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