Feb 4, 2022 - Health

HIV disparities persist

Tina Reed

Illustration of a magnifying glass studying a red ribbon — Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Black Americans are diagnosed with HIV at a rate that's nearly four times higher than the rate for all other racial groups combined, according to new data released by the CDC.

By the numbers: Black adults made up a disproportionately high number (43%) of newly diagnosed cases of HIV and AIDS, at a rate of 39.2 per 100,000 people in 2018, the data shows.

More than half (52%) of those Black adults diagnosed lived in segregated communities with higher levels of social vulnerability.

What they're saying: "While there is no simple solution to equity, our nation must finally tear down the wall of factors — systemic racism, homophobia, transphobia, HIV-related stigma, and other ingrained barriers — that still obstructs these tools against HIV and COVID-19 from equitably reaching the people who could benefit from them," Demetre Daskalakis, director of CDC's HIV Prevention Program said in a statement.

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HIV disparities persist

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