African Americans/Blacks

Quick Facts

African Americans/blacks represented:
– 13% of the U.S. population in 2007
– 51% of all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in 2007
– 69% of the total number of reported cases of gonorrhea in 2010
– 24% of the total number of tuberculosis cases in 2010

 

 

 

HIV/AIDS

In 2007, the diagnosis rate for HIV/AIDS cases in the United States was 76.7 per 100,000 population among blacks.  Among females, the predominant HIV transmission category was high-risk heterosexual contact, which accounted for 80% of new infections. The HIV incidence rate for black females was 14.7 times the rate for white females.

Overall, the HIV prevalence rate for blacks (1,715 per 100,000 population) was almost eight times as high as that of whites (224 per 100,000). Black men bear the greatest burden of HIV infection; the prevalence rate for black men (2,388 per 100,000) was six times as high as the rate for white men (395 per 100,000). Black women are also severely affected. The prevalence rate for black women (1,122 per 100,000) was 18 times the rate for white women (63 per 100,000).

In 2007, the rate of newly diagnosed AIDS cases among blacks was 43.7 per 100,000.  The mortality rate among blacks with AIDS was 51% (7,124 deaths total) of the deaths in 2007.

More Information:

- HIV/AIDS Topic Site
- HIV/AIDS and African Americans
- HIV/AIDS Statistics and Surveillance

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

Gonorrhea

In 2010, 69% of all reported cases of gonorrhea occurred among blacks. The rate of gonorrhea among blacks in 2010 was 432.5 cases per 100,000 population, which was 18.7 times the rate among whites (23.1). This disparity has changed little in recent years. This disparity was larger for black men (22.2 times) than for black women (16.2 times).

Chlamydia

In 2010, the overall rate among blacks in the United States was 1,167.5 cases per 100,000, a 4.0% increase from the 2009 rate of 1,122.2 cases per 100,000. The rate of chlamydia among black women was over seven times the rate among white women (1,536.5 and 205.1 per 100,000 women, respectively). The chlamydia rate among black men was almost 11 times the rate among white men (761.8 and 69.9 cases per 100,000 men, respectively).

Syphilis

During 2009–2010, the rate of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis among blacks decreased 8.7% (from 18.4 to 16.8 cases per 100,000 population). In 2010, 47.4% of all cases reported to CDC were among blacks and 31.0% of all cases were among whites.

The overall 2010 rate for blacks was eight times the rate for whites, while the 2009 rate was 9.2 times the rate for whites. In 2010, the rate of P&S syphilis among black men was 7.1 times the rate among white men; the rate among black women was 21 times the rate among white women.

In 2010, the rate of congenital syphilis was 33.1 cases per 100,000 live births among blacks. Race/ethnicity for cases of congenital syphilis is based on the mother’s race/ethnicity. This rates was 12.3 times the rate among whites (2.7 cases per 100,000 live births).

More Information:

- STD Topic Site
- STDs and Health Disparities
- STD Surveillance Report, 2010
- STDs in Racial and Ethnic Minorities

 

Viral Hepatitis

Since 2004, rates of hepatitis B have plateaued among all racial/ethnic populations. However, the hepatitis B incidence rate remains the highest among blacks, with 2.3 cases per 100,000 population based on 2007 data.

More Information:

- Viral Hepatitis Topic Site  
- Statistics and Surveillance 

Tuberculosis (TB)

In 2010, 84% of all reported TB cases occurred in racial and ethnic minorities.  Non-Hispanic blacks or African Americans accounted for 24% of TB cases in 2010. African Americans make up approximately 14% of the U.S. population, but accounted for 40% of TB cases in U.S.-born persons. Overall, 11,182 TB cases were reported to CDC from the 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2010.

More information:

- Tuberculosis Topic Site
- TB in Blacks
- Tuberculosis Surveillance Report, 2010