CDC: Blacks disproportionately have HIV

ATLANTA, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- African-Americans are the racial group most disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States, a federal health official says.

Dr. Kevin Fenton of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta says while African-Americans represent 12 percent of the U.S. population, blacks account for almost half of the more than 1 million people estimated to be living with human immunodeficiency virus in the United States, and nearly half of new HIV infections each year.

"Of the nearly 25,000 infections estimated to occur each year among African-Americans, more than one-third -- 38 percent -- are among young people ages 13-29 and young black gay and bisexual men are especially hard hit, representing more than half -- 55 percent -- of all new infections among blacks in this age group," Fenton said in a statement.

"A 2009 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the proportion of African-Americans aged 18-29 who reported being very concerned about becoming infected with HIV declined from 54 percent in 1997 to 40 percent today."

Research shows that talking about HIV can reduce the stigma and can increase knowledge about how to prevent HIV, and motivate the practice of potentially life-saving behaviors, which include getting tested regularly for HIV and using condoms correctly and consistently.