Gay and Bisexual Men of All Races Are Most Severely Affected by HIV
Gay and bisexual men—referred to in CDC surveillance systems as men who have sex with men (MSM)1 —accounted for a significantly greater proportion of estimated new infections in 2006 than any other risk group (Figures 2).
These findings underscore the need to expand access to HIV testing and
other proven interventions, and to continue research to identify new
interventions to address the evolving needs of diverse populations of
gay and bisexual men in the United States. Many factors probably
contribute to high risk of HIV among MSM, including the challenge of
maintaining safer-sex behaviors, the assumption that one is
HIV-negative, underestimates of personal risk factors, and stigma,
which may prevent access to needed services and may lead to substance
abuse and depression.
Figure 2. Estimated Number of New HIV Infections, Extended Back-Calculation Model, by Transmission Category, 1977– 2006
Impact of HIV Greater Among Blacks Than Any Other Racial or Ethnic Group
CDC’s new estimates confirm that blacks are more severely
and disproportionately affected by HIV than any other racial/ethnic
group in the United States (Figure 4).
Trend analyses show that HIV incidence among blacks has been roughly
stable at an unacceptably high level since the early 1990s (except for
a brief fluctuation in the late 1990s).
The continued severity of the epidemic among blacks underscores the
need to sustain and accelerate prevention efforts in this population.
Although race itself is not a risk factor for HIV infection, a range of
issues contribute to the disproportionate HIV risk for blacks in the
United States, including poverty, stigma, higher rates of other STDs,
and drug use.
Figure 4. Estimated Rates of New HIV Infections, by Race/Ethnicity, 2006
By Age Group
More infections occurred among young people under 30 (aged 13–29) than any other age group (34%, or 19,200), (Figure 8),
followed by persons 30–39 (31% or 17,400). These data confirm that HIV
is an epidemic primarily of young people and underscores the critical
need to reach each new generation of young people with HIV prevention
services. Persons over age 50 continue to account for a relatively
small proportion of new infections.
Figure 8. Estimated New HIV Infections, by Age, 2006
From the CDC Report
August 2008
Gay and Bisexual Men of All Races Are Most Severely Affected by HIV
Gay and bisexual men—referred to in CDC surveillance systems as men who have sex with men (MSM)1 —accounted for a significantly greater proportion of estimated new infections in 2006 than any other risk group (Figures 2). These findings underscore the need to expand access to HIV testing and other proven interventions, and to continue research to identify new interventions to address the evolving needs of diverse populations of gay and bisexual men in the United States. Many factors probably contribute to high risk of HIV among MSM, including the challenge of maintaining safer-sex behaviors, the assumption that one is HIV-negative, underestimates of personal risk factors, and stigma, which may prevent access to needed services and may lead to substance abuse and depression.
Figure 2. Estimated Number of New HIV Infections, Extended Back-Calculation Model, by Transmission Category, 1977– 2006
Impact of HIV Greater Among Blacks Than Any Other Racial or Ethnic Group
CDC’s new estimates confirm that blacks are more severely and disproportionately affected by HIV than any other racial/ethnic group in the United States (Figure 4). Trend analyses show that HIV incidence among blacks has been roughly stable at an unacceptably high level since the early 1990s (except for a brief fluctuation in the late 1990s). The continued severity of the epidemic among blacks underscores the need to sustain and accelerate prevention efforts in this population. Although race itself is not a risk factor for HIV infection, a range of issues contribute to the disproportionate HIV risk for blacks in the United States, including poverty, stigma, higher rates of other STDs, and drug use.
Figure 4. Estimated Rates of New HIV Infections, by Race/Ethnicity, 2006
By Age Group
More infections occurred among young people under 30 (aged 13–29) than any other age group (34%, or 19,200), (Figure 8), followed by persons 30–39 (31% or 17,400). These data confirm that HIV is an epidemic primarily of young people and underscores the critical need to reach each new generation of young people with HIV prevention services. Persons over age 50 continue to account for a relatively small proportion of new infections.
Figure 8. Estimated New HIV Infections, by Age, 2006
Click here for full report.