HIV/AIDS (HIV) Human immunodeficiency virus. The cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Also called human immunodeficiency virus.

HIV/AIDS has had a devastating impact on minorities in the United States. Racial and ethnic minorities accounted for almost 68 percent of the newly diagnosed cases of HIV and AIDS in 2005. In 2005, 86 percent of babies born with HIV/AIDS belong to minority groups.

In the African American community, HIV/AIDS has become an epidemic. African Americans accounted for 49% of all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in 2005. African American men are more than nine times more likely to die of AIDS than non-Hispanic White men. AIDS is the leading cause of death in African American women aged 25-34 and the third leading cause of death in African American men in the same age group.

HIV/AIDS is spreading at a rapid rate in the Hispanic community. Hispanics accounted for 18 percent of AIDS cases in 2005, despite making up only 14 percent of the U.S. population. Hispanics are 3.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with AIDS than non-Hispanic Whites. Hispanic males were also almost three times more likely to die of AIDS than their non-Hispanic White counterparts in 2004.

Though the numbers are small, American Indians are also impacted disproportionately by HIV/AIDS. American Indians are 1.3 times more likely to have AIDS than non-Hispanic Whites.

For Asians and Pacific Islanders, HIV/AIDS is the seventh leading cause of death in men aged 25 to 34 and the 7th leading cause of death for Asian/Pacific Islander women of the same age group.

Quick Facts

African American males have almost 8 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white males.
American Indian/Alaska Native women have twice the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white women.
One Asian/Pacific Islander child was diagnosed with AIDS in 2005.
Hispanic females have more than 5 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white females.
For more info, please click here http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3019