When it comes to HIV/AIDS, the famous saying of when White America has a cold - Black America has the flu rings true when it comes to this disease as well. Every year in the United States, since the epidemic began in 1981, Blacks have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.

More than any other racial/ethnic group in the United States, Blacks account for more new HIV infections, AIDS cases, people estimated to be living with HIV disease, and HIV related deaths. Even though Blacks make up 13% of the US population, we account for about half (49%) of the people who get HIV and AIDS. Blacks don't live as long as people of other races and ethnic groups with AIDS, due to a multiple level of barriers (i.e. poverty, stigma, etc.). Blacks have more deaths due to HIV/AIDS than any other racial/ethnic group.

When looking at the disease from a gender perspective, for Black Men, the most common ways of getting HIV are: (1) having unprotected sex with another man or woman who has HIV; and (2) sharing injection drug works (like needles or syringes) with someone who has HIV. For Black Women, the most common ways of getting HIV are: (1) having unprotected sex with a man who has HIV; and (2) sharing injection drug works (like needles or syringes) with someone who has HIV. Blacks at higher risk for HIV are those (1) who are unaware of their sexual partner's risk factors; (2) with other STDs (which affect more Blacks than any other racial or ethnic group); and (3) who live in poverty (which is about one quarter [25%] of all blacks).

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Black America is a continuing public health crisis for the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at the end of 2006, there were an estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV infection, of which almost half (46%) were Black.

In 2007 alone, Blacks accounted for 51% of the 42,655 (including children) new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 34 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting. Also, Blacks accounted for 48% of the 551,932 persons (including children) living with HIV/AIDS in 34 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.

There are a number of challenges when it comes to preventing HIV in Black American communities:

• Sexual risk factors include high-risk sexual contact such as unprotected sex with multiple partners or unprotected sex with persons known to have or be at a high risk for HIV infection. People may be unaware of their partner’s sexual risk factors or have incorrectly assessed them.
• Injection drug use may add to the higher rates of infection for Blacks. In addition to being at risk from sharing unclean needles, causal and chronic illegal substance users may be more likely to engage in unprotected sex under the influence of illegal drugs and/or alcohol .
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to be experienced at higher rates within Black communities, more so than any other race/ethnicity in the United States. The presence of certain STDs can significantly increase one’s chances of contracting HIV infection. A person who has both HIV infection and certain STDs has a greater chance of spreading HIV infection to others.
• Lack of awareness of HIV status is risky for Black men and women. In a recent study of men who have sex with men (MSM) in five cities, 46% of the Black MSM were HIV-positive and 67% of those men were unaware of their infection.
• Stigma, a “negative social label that identifies people as deviant”, also puts too many Blacks at a high risk of infection. Any behavior deemed deviant (i.e. MSM) has been highly stigmatized. Many at risk for HIV infection fear stigma more than knowing their status, choosing instead to hide their high-risk behavior rather than seek counseling and testing. Therefore continuing to be at risk of contracting and passing it on to infect others.
• The socioeconomic issues associated with poverty, including limited access to high quality healthcare, housing and HIV prevention education may directly or indirectly increase the risk factors for HIV infection for Black people.

Given the aforementioned challenges, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day becomes crucial in working to stem the tide of HIV and get those who test positive linked to care and treatment services.