Women of color are especially affected by HIV infection and AIDS. African American women make up only 12% of the female population in the United States, yet they account for 66% of new HIV infections. In 2004, HIV infection was the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25–34 years and the third leading cause of death for African American women aged 35–44 years. In 2005, the rate of AIDS diagnoses for African American women was 20 times the rate for White women. HIV/AIDS-related conditions are now the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25-34 years. The reasons for increased AIDS incidence and deaths among African American women are complex.

To develop comprehensive strategies to reach African American women most in need, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention held a meeting in June 2007 titled HIV/AIDS and African American Women: A Consultation Supporting CDC’s Heightened National Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis Among African Americans. This consultation was guided by four main areas of focus: 1) expanding the reach for prevention services, 2) increasing opportunities for diagnosing and treating HIV, 3) developing new, effective prevention interventions, and 4) mobilizing broader community action. These areas had been identified earlier in the CDC action plan titled A Heightened National Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis among African Americans.

The consultation gave participants the opportunity to share their collective knowledge and skills and generate suggestions for HIV prevention strategies for underserved African American women most affected by HIV/AIDS. Meeting participants identified a number of cross-cutting issues in African American women’s lives that places these women at risk for HIV; the participants questioned what can be done to give young African American women the skills they need to reduce risk; and participants provided suggestions on how public health agencies and a range of community-based and stakeholder organizations could assess and manage the HIV/AIDS crisis among African American women.