More African-Americans are still dying from HIV compared with their white and Latino counterparts combined, but the death rate is dropping faster than it is for other ethnic groups, according to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Using data from 2012, the latest year the information was compiled, the report showed that 8,165 African-American deaths due to HIV were reported, down from 2008's 9,920 deaths. There was a smaller decline in whites where the death toll in 2012 was recorded at 5,426 and 5,662 in 2008. In the Latino population, there were 2,586 HIV-related deaths in 2012 and 2,949 in 2008.
Death rates are measured (PDF) in every 100,000 of the population and for every 1,000 living with HIV. Between 2008 and 2012, the decline in death rates among African-Americans consistently dropped, resulting in a decrease in the number of deaths by 18 percent. In every 100,000 of the population, there was a reduction of 21 percent while for every 1,000 individuals living with HIV the mortality rate was down by 28 percent.
Still, 41 percent of the 1.2 million living with HIV in 2011 were African-Americans. In 2010, for every 100,000 African-Americans, an estimated rate of 68.9 had HIV, almost eight times higher compared with the 8.7 estimated rate for whites.
Other ethnic groups experienced a decline in death rates as well for the same period but results were most significant and consistent among African-Americans.
The report doesn't identify reasons explaining the decline in HIV-related deaths in African-Americans but it may be attributed to more aggressive campaigns various groups have launched to inform and educate communities about the virus as well as provide treatment for infected individuals.
The drop in death rate among African-Americans is actually a bit surprising considering the group is less likely to be officially diagnosed with HIV, with 15 percent not even aware that they have been infected. At the same time, they were also less likely to get ample treatment, with just 77 percent of African-Americans living with HIV receiving care, a number far lower than other ethnic groups.
Around the world, there were about 2.1 million new cases diagnosed in 2013. Around 35 million are already living with HIV, while almost 39 million have already succumbed to AIDS since the epidemic started. Sub-Saharan African regions are the most affected by HIV/AIDS, but countries in Asia, Latin America and Europe are also feeling the burden of the disease.
