Who is at risk for HIV? World AIDS Day 2012

Anyone can be infected with HIV. However, certain groups of people are disproportionately affected by HIV. This means that these groups have more HIV infections than other groups, even though their overall group size is small. In the United States these groups are disproportionately affected by HIV: gay/bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), blacks/African Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos. Women—including those who are pregnant—also face risk. Those who abuse intravenous drugs and other substances are also at high risk.

If you think you are at high risk for exposure, or you have sex partners who may be, you should be tested for HIV at least once each year.  Everyone between ages 13 and 64 should be tested at least once as part of routine health care.

Gay, Bisexual, or Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)

Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (MSM) represent approximately 2% of the U.S. population, but accounted for more than 61% of all new HIV infections in 2009.

Other relevant statistics for MSM

• Nearly 24,000 MSM are newly infected with HIV each year (CDC estimates that approximately 50,000 total people in the United States are newly infected with HIV each year).
• MSM is the only risk group with increasing numbers of new HIV infections.

To learn more about these statistics, visit CDC’s page on HIV among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM).

Blacks/African Americans

Blacks/African Americans are the racial/ethnic group most affected by HIV. They represent approximately 13% of the U.S. population, but accounted for approximately 45% of all new HIV infections in the United States in 2006.
Other relevant statistics for blacks/African Americans

• At some point in their lives, 1 in 16 black/African American men and 1 in 32 black/African American women will be diagnosed with HIV. Black/African American men are six times more likely to be infected with HIV infection than white men, nearly three times more likely than Hispanic/Latino men and twice as likely as black/African American women.
• It is 15 times more likely for a black/African American woman to be infected with HIV infection than a white woman and nearly four times more likely than Hispanic/Latina woman.

To learn more about these statistics, visit CDC’s page on HIV among African Americans.

Hispanics/Latinos

Hispanics/Latinos represent approximately 15% of the U.S. population, but accounted for 17% of new HIV infections in the United States in 2006.
Other relevant statistics for Hispanics/Latinos

• The rate of new HIV infections among Hispanic/Latino men is more than double that of white men.
• The rate of new HIV infections among Hispanic/Latina women is nearly 4 times that of white women.

To learn more about these statistics, visit CDC’s page on HIV among Hispanics/Latinos.

Women

In 2006, women comprised 27% of all new HIV infections in the United States. Women of minority races/ethnicities are especially affected. Black/African American women are the most affected group, followed by Hispanic/Latina women. The HIV infection rate for black women was nearly 15 times as high as that of white women and nearly four times as high as that of Hispanic/Latina women.
Women who are infected with HIV typically get it by having sex with a man who is infected or by sharing needles with an infected person.

Pregnant Women

All pregnant women should know their HIV status.
Pregnant women who are HIV-positive can work with their health care providers to ensure their babies do not contract HIV during pregnancy, delivery, and/or after delivery (through breast milk). It is possible for a mother to have HIV and not spread it to her baby, especially if she knows about her HIV status early and works with her health care provider to reduce the risk.
Out of 50 pregnant women with HIV, the risk of them passing HIV to their babies is approximately:

• 1 baby out of 50 when women begin treatment during pregnancy
• 5 babies out of 50 when women begin treatment during labor, or their babies get treatment soon after birth, or both mother and baby receive treatment during labor or soon after birth
• 13 babies out of 50 when women do not get treatment

Remember that HIV also can be spread through breast milk, so mothers with HIV should not breast-feed their babies.
For more information on pregnant women and HIV visit section on this topic.

Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs)

In 2006, people infected with HIV through injection drug use (IDU) accounted for 12% of all new HIV infections. People who have sex with an injection drug user are also at risk for infection through the sexual transmission of HIV.
While most people who have HIV get it by having sex with someone who is infected, sharing needles and other drug works is a well-documented way of transmitting HIV. (source CDC.gov)

Israel Must Stop Now!!! Hamas Must Stop Now!!!

Israeli and Palestinian Peace

CONSIDER THIS: I do not under any circumstances support what the Israeli government under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu has been doing in Palestine especially in the Gaza Strip.  But let me be very clear to those reading this and would translate that to mean that I’m somehow “anti-semitic” or “anti-Jewish” because I don’t support the Israeli government, shame on you for thinking so small.

There are Jews throughout the world as well as Israeli citizens who don’t support this government and what some would deem crimes against humanity.  So for me this is a human issues not an Jewish issue.  Let me further add, I do not under any circumstances support the actions of Hamas and their rhetoric of hatred and their corrupt leadership.  They are very wrong too.

You see, there’s a complex history when it comes to the formation of Israel in the 1940’s and the unwillingness of the European nations and the U.S. to force the creation of a Palestinian state at the same time.  The mistake was made then and the world is still paying for it now.  Some of you think this is about religious belief and ancient prophecy, that too is wrong thinking.  The only prophecy that’s taking place is the self fulfilling kind.  The kind that would continue to see this supposed prophecy to fruition at a cost to all humanity.

What this is, is a powder keg of human behaviour that has caused nothing but pain and suffering on all sides.  True leadership on the part of Israel and Hamas would be working towards to diplomatic solutions of compromise.  Until that happens we will continue to see what we’re seeing now. Pain, suffering, fear and needless deaths.

But when it’s all said and done, it will be the Children of Israel and the Children of Palestine who will loose everything.  And that is where the real shame and sadness resides.

An Open Letter To White Male America

White men in America who lost elections on 6th November, why are you so angry?  What happened to your sense of fairness and belief in the American way?  What happened to your belief in the Constitution and the voice of the people through the ballot box?  What happened to your belief that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL or does that really mean that ALL White men are created equal and everyone else is just one step below that?

I ask these questions because you have fought hard in the sphere of public opinion and media propaganda to convince those who don’t look like you that you really love all of us and that we should continue to blindly follow your form of leadership and political representation.  I really don’t want you to be mad with us Mr. White American Male.  Do you not realise how much the people who don’t look like you LOVE and WORSHIP you everyday of their existence in this nation and arguably in this world?

Do you not understand that we have always sought to be like YOU and do everything in our power consciously and unconsciously via our sub-cultures to emulate you and assimilate to your world view?  We spend your money, support your policies even when we say we don’t, buy your products although we get paid very little for the work we do to produce them and we worship your God and gods and we defend those beliefs with our lives knowing that believing in such things have never worked to our advantage.

So, why you mad bro?  I just don’t get it.  You can’t ask for more than what you currently have.  You have a nation of citizens who still dance to your drum.  You still have power, regardless of the drop in your population.  You control education, text books, how history is taught to our youth and more than anything you control the images of those who are not White and how they are portrayed to our nation and the world.

Again, I ask, why you mad bro?  Man you need to stop trippin’.  You are in the Cat Birds Seat and have been for centuries.  Don’t fret, the people will continue to follow your lead because you will change your tactics, your message and your strategies to appease the people while still remaining in power.

That said, I bid you well because I have never believed a damned thing you’ve ever said.  But just because you don’t have me under your mind control doesn’t mean that countless others won’t continue to believe in your perspective and what you represent.  Keep on keeping on and do you bro.  Those of us who know better will also do what we must to insure a future that’s in our best interest.  It’s what you’d do, right?

Much Love, Peace and Light,
A Free Thinking Human Being