The HIV infection rate among poor African-American women in Washington DC has doubled, from 6.3% in 2008 to 12.1%, according the city’s Department of Health data. Click below to find out more.
While the stunning jump in numbers is likely attibutable to wider testing in DC’s most needy neighborhoods, HIV rates in heterosexual black women, a high-risk group, are on the rise, reports the Washington Post.
Michael Rhein, senior vice president at the Institute for Public Health Innovation said, the data reflects “a true increase in the HIV rate among heterosexuals and women living in areas of concentrated poverty.â€
The majority of HIV cases were “nearly all black, 62% making less than $10,000 and 37% unemployed,†per the Post.
According health officials, 90% of all women with HIV in DC are black.
Greg Pappas, senior director at the D.C. Health Department has dubbed the situation “ a very serious heterosexual epidemic.â€
He estimated that 20 percent to 30 percent of the District’s HIV-positive population “is probably walking around infected and don’t know it,†he said.
The city, which will host the International AIDS conference this month is touting the positive strides its made in battling its HIV crisis.
More people are getting access to health care within three months of being diagnosed with HIV rather waiting until they become seriously ill.
Last year, the city noted a 60% drop in new HIV cases last year in patients that abuse IV drugs.
Health officials credit an effective needle exchange program for decrease.
