SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Ethnic and racial minority groups continue to experience substantial disparities in health care. The health disparity is particularly evident in the area of HIV/AIDS. In the United States, ethnic and racial minorities make up 24% of the population. However, they comprise 67% of the new AIDS cases. This is over burden of disease is especially evident in African Americans who in 1999 comprised 12% of the population yet represented 47% of AIDS cases and approximately 57% of the new HIV cases.

Since 1985, the percentage of AIDS cases has decreased overall. However, the percentage of AIDS cases has increased among people of color with the most dramatic increase seen among African Americans. African American males have an AIDS case rate over seven time that of their white counterparts. African American women have an AIDS case rate of over 20 times that of white women. African American children made up 62% of the new AIDS cases among children reported in 1998. African American children under the age of 13 have an AIDS case rate 16 times the rate for white children.

Despite the advances in AIDS drug therapies that have resulted in dramatic decreases in AIDS deaths since 1996, ethnic and racial minorities continue to lag behind whites. Overall, HIV is the 9th leading cause of death for African Americans. However, it is the leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 25-44.