Recognizing HIV Awareness Month
December 9, 2024 by agutting@reviewjournal.com
Filed under Health
BY DR. MARGUERITE BRATHWAITE OB-GYN
The month of December brings so much joy and love, but we should also stay aware that it is HIV Awareness Month.
We must continue to protect ourselves during sexual intimacy — especially if relationships are not exclusive.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported its first cases of AIDS in 1981, with a total of 26 cases that included one African-American. Rapidly, African-Americans began dominating HIV/AIDS cases. A 1986 report on health disparities highlighted that Black/African-American accounted for 51% of all AIDS cases among women — and an overall AIDS rate three times higher than that of their white counterparts.
In 2021, the CDC reported alarming disparities in HIV infections, and Black/African-American individuals constituted approximately 12% of the population and accounted for a disproportionately high 40% (13,000) of an estimated 32,100 new HIV infections. White individuals, representing 61% of the U.S. population, made up 26% (8,200) of the new HIV infections. And Hispanics/Latino individuals, comprising 18% of the population, accounted for 29% (9,300) of new HIV infections.
The drivers of many of these health disparities have been related to socioeconomic status, healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, among other factors.
It is important to be informed and conscious as it relates to your health. If you are single and engage in sexual activities with multiple partners, it is wise to see your doctor more regularly for appropriate testing.
Also, women who are single, older, and who have multiple sexual partners need to take particular care with routine testing — to ensure that their health is not unnecessarily threatened by sexually-transmitted diseases.
We at Innovative Women’s Care wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to meeting you for your OB-GYN healthcare needs. Make your appointment today by calling Innovative Women’s Care at (702) 413-7740 or visit us at 7650 West Sahara Ave. Suite 100 in Las Vegas.
