CDC Reports HIV/AIDS Diagnoses Declines Among Blacks Living in Florida

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report at the end of last week describing research that indicates the numbers of newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) cases among blacks living in Florida declined during 1999-2004.

In 2004, Florida ranked third in total number of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases. Only New York and California accounted for a higher percentage total cases, according to the CDC. During that year, Florida also had the second highest number of newly diagnosed cases of AIDS in the country, second only to New York.

The data in this recent report indicates that there was more of a decline amongst blacks living in Florida than amongst other racial/ethnic groups in Florida during the same time period.

The researchers conclude that the findings suggest that the decline in HIV/AIDS diagnoses amongst blacks living in Florida during 1999-2004 might be due to a reduction in high-risk sexual behavior. Parallel reductions in gonorrhea rates seem to support this theory.

Researchers admit that there were some limitations to their study that may have adversely affected their conclusions. There may have been some limitations with respect to the inability to retroactively report some HIV cases diagnosed prior to 1997. This may have led to a cases diagnosis misclassification during the study. Also, data on annual numbers of HIV tests could only be obtained from public clinics. This restriction may have resulted in an underestimation in numbers of tests overall or for one racial/ethnic population as compared with others. Another limitation was that some people may have had multiple HIV tests in a given year and therefore have been counted multiple times in the annual HIV test data.

Despite the decrease in HIV/AIDS diagnoses recently reported in Florida amongst blacks, HIV/AIDS rates remain higher among blacks than among any other racial/ethnic population in Florida or in most of the rest of the United States. In 33 reporting states, blacks made up 13% of the population during 2001-2004. However, in those same states, blacks accounted for approximately 49% of persons who had a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. Nearly half of the 1 million people living in the United States with HIV/AIDS as of 2003 were black.

AIDS is a leading cause of death for blacks.

The CDC continually conducts research and programs to promote HIV prevention among blacks, such as partnering with community leaders and organizations to mobilize against HIV/AIDS, conducting the Minority AIDS Research Initiative, and implementing social marketing campaigns focused on the importance of HIV testing.

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). February 2, 2007. Vol. 56. No. 4. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5604.pdf. Retrieved February 8, 2007.