The data available for new HIV infection among black women can be confusing. Depending on the sources used, a researcher will have wide swings in numbers. This is because HIV statistics are often lumped together under all blacks with HIV. But one thing is remaining constant: black women are at the greatest risk for contracting HIV.
Black Women and HIV and AIDS
According to the most recent data available, there are over 275,000 women living with HIV today. Out of this number, black women account for approximately 66 percent of all new infections among women.
The harsh reality is that 1 in 32 black women will be diagnosed with HIV at some point in her life, with black women accounting for nine out of ten new HIV infections among women.
People aged 13-24 years old accounted for a greater share of newly infected Blacks (33 percent).
African American women accounted for 6,100 (29 percent) of the estimated new HIV infections among all adult and adolescent African Americans.
Ten states account for the majority (68 percent) of women living with an HIV diagnosis (as of the end of 2010); with 5 states accounting for half (49 percent).
The New York and Miami metropolitan areas had the greatest number and highest rates of women living with an HIV diagnosis.
Top 10 States by Metropolitan Region – By the end of 2009, 10 large metropolitan areas represented over half (56 percent) of all women living with an HIV diagnosis.
