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District Of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Part 9

Behavioral Surveillance: Participants

The District’s HIV/AIDS Behavioral Surveillance (HBS) Summary Report 2008 was released in March. This HBS concentrated on heterosexuals at risk of HIV infection (HBS-HET).

The targeted population for this HBS-HET was males and females 18 years and over who had sexual intercourse with a member of the opposite sex in the past 12 months and had some connection to a geographical high risk area (HRA). The HRAs were those with the highest poverty rates and the highest AIDS rates. There were 4 such HRAs: one was located in Ward 7, one was in Ward 8, one was located on the border between Wards 5 and 6, and one included parts of Wards 1, 2, 5, and 6. See Part 4

Participants filled out a survey and were offered free anonymous rapid HIV tests. The participants were given risk reduction materials, free condoms, and service referrals as needed. Participants also received monetary rewards for participating.

The majority of participants: was over 30 years old (61.4%), was black (92.3%), had never been married (61.6%), had a high school degree or less (85.7%), had an annual household income of less than $9,999 (60%), and, if insured, was insured through Medicaid or Medicare (91.8%).

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District Of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Part 8

Behavioral Surveillance: Background

The District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Update 2008 was released in March of this year. The District’s HIV/AIDS Behavioral Surveillance (HBS) Summary Report 2008 was also released in March. This behavioral surveillance studied what people are doing and what risks they are taking before they are infected. Understanding risk behaviors is an important step in reducing the problem of the HIV disease in the District.

This HBS concentrated on heterosexuals at risk of HIV infection (HBS-HET). It was a partnership between DC’s Department of Health and George Washington University’s School of Public Health and Health Services. Unfortunately, the Report reinforced the Update’s bleak statistics and disheartening conclusions. (See previous posts on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in DC.)

The District has the highest HIV/AIDS case rate in the United States and this rate is considered to be of epidemic proportion. Unfortunately, heterosexual contact leads new transmissions: about 37% of newly reported infections are through heterosexual contact. The data imply that a generalized epidemic among heterosexuals at high risk for HIV may be emerging in the District.

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District Of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Part 6

The Statistics by Race

The District of Columbia’s HIV/AIDS 2008 Update was released in March and includes many staggering facts and conclusions on the District’s current epidemic.

The Update reports the District’s total population by race as being 52.9% Black, 34.2% White, 8.0% Hispanic, and 4.9% other. These are adults and adolescents over the age of 13 (A/A). The percentages of A/A living with HIV/AIDS by race are: 4.3% Black, 1.9% Hispanic, 1.5% other, and 1.4% White.

There are 15,120 A/A living with HIV/AIDS. The percentages of this group by race are: 76.3% Black, 16.0% White, 5.2% Hispanic, and 2.5% other. Blacks comprise a little over half of the total A/A population of the District, but comprise ¾ of the A/A population living with HIV/AIDS.

The mode of transmission of HIV differs by race. Men-having-sex-with-men (MSM) is the greatest mode for white males: 82.4%. The greatest modes for black males are: 42.1% MSM, 20.0% heterosexual contact, and 19.7% injection drug user (IDU). Greatest modes for Hispanic males are: 59.3% MSM and 19.7% heterosexual contact.

Heterosexual contact is the greatest mode for females: Hispanic 70.1%, Black 58.1%, and 51.1% White.

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District Of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Part 5

The Statistics by Gender

The District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Update 2008 verifies that the District is in the midst of a “modern HIV/AIDS epidemic.” See Part 1

The Update reports that the District’s total population of adults and adolescents over the age of 13 (A/A) is 506,722. There are 15,120 A/A living with HIV/AIDS, which is 3% of the total A/A population. See Part 3

The gender percentages of the total A/A population are 46.6% male and 53.4% female. However, even though there are fewer males, they have an HIV/AIDS infection rate almost 3 times higher than females: 4.6% to 1.6%.

The male-to-female comparison within the 15,120 population is startling: 71.7% male to 28.3% female. This reflects Update results showing that men-having-sex-with-men is the leading mode of disease transmission. This includes not only homosexuals but also non-homosexual men engaging in risky sexual behavior.

Unfortunately, data also show that heterosexual contact as a mode of disease transmission is increasing. This puts the female population of the District at great risk. Sadly, many of them may already be infected and not even know it.

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