HIV in the United States by Race/Ethnicity: HIV Risk Behaviors

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The risk of getting or transmitting HIV varies widely depending on the type of exposure or behavior. Most commonly, people get or transmit HIV through anal or vaginal sex, or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment—for example, cookers.

Sexual Behaviors Among People with Diagnosed HIV in the US by Race/Ethnicity, 2019*†

Seven percent of people with HIV had sex without using any HIV prevention strategy in the past 12 months.

* Among people with HIV aged 18 and older.
† Data not available for Asian, Multiracial, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people.
‡ Had sex while not virally suppressed with a partner whose HIV status was negative or unknown, a condom was not used, and the partner was not taking PrEP.
** Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.
†† Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.
Source: CDC. Medical Monitoring Project.

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Injection Behaviors Among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in 23 US Cities by Race/Ethnicity, 2018*

One third of PWID without HIV used a syringe after someone else used it.

Percentage of PWID without HIV who used any injection equipment after someone else used it in the past 12 months by age

* Among PWID without HIV aged 18 and older.
† Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.
‡ Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.
Source: CDC. HIV infection risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among persons who inject drugs—National HIV Behavioral Surveillance: injection drug use, 23 U.S. Cities, 2018 [PDF – 2 MB]. HIV Surveillance Special Report 2020;24.

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