Black HIV Crisis

[BiBottomBoy]

The CDC today reported that 1 in 22 American blacks will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime - that's eight times higher than for white people.

Any ideas as to why this is? Tons of black on the downlow? Or does the higher incarceration rate = more prison sex = higher risk of HIV transmission?

[TotallyOz]

I think there is still so much stigma in the black community about being gay that many do live on the downlow. I am not sure how much of a contributing factor this is with the rates of HIV but it must have some impact. I am not sure of the numbers but I do think that poor people also have higher rates than those with money. The reason for this is that many who have insurance and good income will go and get checked often while those that can't afford it will not. When I lived in NYC, I met many young gay men who never got tested because they said they could not afford it. I suggested they go to a free clinic in Chelsea but they didn't want to be seen in the area.

[BiBottomBoy]

I wonder if meth wasn't a factor if the white HIV rate would be similar.

i.e. poor white people end up killing themselves with meth at such a young age they don't have time to get diagnosed HIV positive.