Know the Facts in Your Community
Though HIV affects all races in the U.S., African Americans and Latinos/Hispanics carry a high share of this burden. In fact, in 2007, African Americans and Latinos/Hispanics accounted for 65% of all people living with HIV/AIDS.
How does HIV affect the African American community?
African Americans make up about 13% of the U.S. population. But almost half of all people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. in 2007 were African American. HIV is most widespread among African American men. And it is more common among African American women than in women of other races. For both African American males and females, the most common way that HIV is spread is through sexual contact.
What about Latinos/Hispanics and HIV?
Another group with more than its share of the HIV outbreak in the U.S. is the Latino/Hispanic group. In 2007, 17% of people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. were Latino/Hispanic. At that time, Latinos/Hispanics made up only 12% of the total population.* For Latino/Hispanic men and women, the most common way that HIV is spread is through sexual contact.
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