Question: What is the HIV incidence among gay black males?
Answer: A government study shows that 1 in 3 young gay black males is HIV positive. This raises concern that prevention messages are not reaching the African American population. It also suggests that gay males are dismissing prevention messages, instead relying on the belief that available meds diminishes the need for safe sex practices.
African Americans are bearing the brunt of the epidemic. Last year there were 40,000 new infections, 50% of which were African Americans. In addition, black women are four times more likely to become infected than white women. Several theories exist as to why this is the case, including increase drug use among African Americans and less access to medical care.
