unfortunate

Week 7: option 2.

Option 2: After reading "HIV and AIDS in the United States: An Overview," what populations have the highest rates of HIV and AIDS? Why do these groups have such high rates?

In the entire world, the populations that have the highest rates of HIV and AIDS are those that have lower standards of living (not by choice), those that have higher infant mortality rates, those that have higher fertility rates, and in general the "less-developed" nations in the world. However, when talking about just simply the United States, we have to think more intricately to find out why a certain population may have more or less problems such as HIV and AIDS.

According to, "HIV and AIDS in the United States: An Overview," there are some hard and unfortunate facts to discuss.

"The number of people living with HIV
infection in the United States (HIV
prevalence) is higher than ever before."

"Diagnoses of HIV infection reported to
CDC have increased in recent years. In 2008, 41,269 persons were diagnosed."

Men who have sex with men represent roughly 2% of the American Population.

"Blacks/African Americans are the racial/ethnic group most affected by HIV. Blacks/African Americans represent approximately 12% of the U.S. population, but account for almost half of all new HIV infections. At some point in their lives, 1 in 16 black/African American men will receive a diagnosis of HIV, as will one in 30 black women. The rate of new HIV infection for black/African
American men is 6 times as high as that of white men, nearly 3 times that of Hispanic/Latino
men, and more than twice that of black/African American women."

"Hispanics/Latinos represent 15% of the
population, but account for an estimated 17% of new infections. The rate of new HIV infection among Hispanic/Latino men is more than double that of white men. The rate of new HIV infection among Hispanic/Latina women is nearly 4 times that of white women. From 2005-2008, estimated HIV diagnoses."