New research compares the HIV epidemic for black women in Atlanta to the devastating rates to those of African countries.
By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
It has been widely known for the last couple of decades that the African American community is more affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic more than any other ethnicity. While there are several theories as to why the black population has been impacted so greatly, it continues to appear that Black women continue to contract the disease at a higher rate than black men. This issue is a terrifying one that continues to stalk the African American population despite the growing amounts of research and studies dedicated to finding treatment for the sexually transmitted disease.
The data collected in 2009 from the health departments of Dekalb, Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, and Gwinnett released the following rates of infection of HIV and Aids, respectfully amongst black women:
Dekalb: 3,257 and 3,983
Fulton: 4,213 and 7,342
Clayton:847 and 943
Cobb and Douglas:1,030 and 1,288
Gwinnett:884 and 1,041
In a separate study conducted by the Center for Disease Control, it was conducted that black women make up 60 percent of all new HIV cases. When compared to other races of women, that is 15 times higher than white women, and 4 percent more than Hispanic women.
Ironically, the study also determined that black women aren’t more likely to engage in sexually risky behavior than other race of women.
The HIV Prevention Trials Network studied more than 2000 black women in several major cities and found that Atlanta can safely be compared to the raising HIV rates of those in African countries.
While many believe the “Down Low Brother” theory is the culprit and the high rates of infection in black women, some would argue that the real cause is the lack of personal responsibility, economic struggles, as well as proper sexual education resources in the black community.
I am not surprised! Most of the downlow men in the South live in Atlanta!
Shayla you’re proof alone that black women are contracting HIV and AIDS at such an alarming rate due to ignorance! Black women have a high rate of HIV because they continue to sleep with men without protection. It’s not rocket science. We need to stop putting our life and health in the hands of other people! If you’re not married, why are you having unprotected sex any way? At least go get tested together before signing your body off on such a risk. But please stop blaming the gay community entirely without taking any responsibility for the choices YOU make.
I agree with Shayla, down low men are passing on the disease to black women. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be more careful and wear condoms more, but that is where the infection is coming from. No need to be politically correct.
Regardless of HOW men get it, more black women need to take control of their health and bodies. Why in the world are you sleeping with and performing sexual acts, without a condom, with a man that you are not even engaged to?
And why are you even sleeping with someone that you aren’t sure of their sexual health? When, you get to know a man, you aren’t just learning about what he likes and dislikes, you have to become aware of his health.
Once you start using the logic that God gave us and become more disciplined with your health and body, you will decrease the likelihood of contracting H.I.V. and other STD’s.
Warning: I’m about to write something that will piss black women off. I say it in love and somebody has got to say it…
BLACK WOMEN, can we stop being victims all the damn time?! If you click the source link and read the article, there are some quotes from infected black women that infuriated me. None of them took any responsibility for being infected with AIDS. It was all the black man’s fault. That is the problem black women seem to have with every situation pertaining to black men, from how we are treated by men to who we date. Take some damn responbility and date better men and start requiring condoms and AIDS TESTING. But the victim mentality needs to stop. We’re not weak.
Queen why can’t black man take some responsibility too? I just don’t understand how one can place ALL the blame on black women. It’s kind of like how there are black men who blame all the problems of the black community on black women. Are we still not going to require black men to be responsible for anything?
Melissa you have the wrong understanding of life. We all have to make choices, and each choice impacts our lives. That’s the deal with being an adult. I feel men should be loyal, get tested regularly, and be honest about their sexuality. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to trust them 100% with my health when we’re not even married. From having babies with no rings and staying with bums, at some point you have to see that most of this happens because we allow it to. Again, let go of that victim mentality.
As a woman living in Atlanta, this terrifies me! That’s why I use condoms every time I have sex. My life is too important.
IT WILL LITERALLY TAKE AN ACT OF GOD!
2 SAVE BLACK PEOPLE From Themselves.
_Becuase they will HATE YOU Even more with this TRUTH.
“WHY OUR U Picking on Us”.
1.With STD RATEs At 48% for BLACK WOMEN-(Herpe).
2.BLACK GAY MEN 60% (HIV-AIDS).
THIS IS A NATIONAL(Ecodemic) THAT THE PRESIDENT MUST ADDRESS!
I have been fortunate to be with all kinds of women. Black women are no easier, if not harder than most women, the problem lies with the men that dabble back and forth.i love women only and I have been with women who are attracted to real men, not these so called dabblers. Word to the wise men if you are in atlanta don’t go without a condom. I have been here two years and this has been my worst dating scene. If I went on one good date I was lucky. The women here have dated these dabblers and don’t even know it, and will pass something on to you blindly not knowing themselves.
Black women reading this please hold up your head high require more from who ever you sleep with. Get them tested, don’t do drugs with them and mess your life up.
I’m actually proud of the black women that I see reaching for the stars in atlanta, with good careers and raising your kids the best way you can. Keep it up good work. If you can’t find a man so what don’t let it define who you are, just don’t drop the ball and let your standards down to be with one of these dabblers who mean you no good.
Much love and respect from a island brother.