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CONTACT: Stephanie Marquis, (608) 266-1683
HEALTH OFFICIALS CELEBRATE PROGRESS ON BLACK HIV/AIDS
AWARENESS DAY
Testing Remains Crucial
MADISON—State health officials are encouraging sexually active youth
to receive HIV testing as part of February 7th's "Black HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day." Between 1990 and 2008, the rate of reported HIV
infection among African Americans in Wisconsin declined 42% from 74 per
100,000 in 1990 to 43 per 100,000 in 2008.
"Wisconsin has made significant advances in prevention and care,
but new strategies are needed to reach younger people at most risk
today" said Dr. Seth Foldy, State Health Officer. "One approach
is encouraging HIV testing of sexually-active youth during routine medical
care."
Although fewer African Americans in Wisconsin have been diagnosed with
HIV in recent years, they continue to be disproportionately affected by
this epidemic. African Americans account for six percent of Wisconsin's
overall population, but represented 39 percent of new HIV infections in
2008.
African American women are 15 times more likely to be diagnosed with
HIV infection than women of other races. HIV also disproportionately
affects Black youth and men who have sex with men. The annual number of
reported HIV cases among young African American men who have sex with men
nearly tripled between 2000 and 2008 in metropolitan Milwaukee.
"Sexually active people of all colors and sexual orientations
should 'get the test.' People who test HIV-positive benefit from prompt
and effective treatment, and can reduce their risk to others," said
Foldy. "Those who test HIV-negative are motivated to stay that
way."
Joint efforts of African American leaders, community-based
organizations and public health workers have provided HIV prevention
services, including free or low-cost HIV tests, to thousands of Wisconsin
African Americans. Of the 19,750 tests done annually at public sites
across Wisconsin, 7,500 (or 38 percent) are given to African Americans.
Public health programs that improve access to HIV testing and medical
treatment have drastically reduced death rates from AIDS among all racial
and ethnic groups in the state. Preventing future infections will also
require more effective control of other sexually-transmitted diseases,
like syphilis and gonorrhea, which can increase the risk of HIV infection.
"National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to renew
our commitment to prevent infection and care for people with HIV infection
and AIDS, and to eliminate racial inequities in health. Discuss the
epidemic with friends on February 7th and you will likely find you know
someone whose life has been affected," Foldy said.
For more information about the Wisconsin AIDS/HIV Program, go to http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/aids-hiv/index.htm
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Last Revised: February 05, 2009 |
