World AIDS Day - December 1

Native News Network Staff in Native Health. Discussion »

WASHINGTON - Today is recognized as World AIDS Day.

World Aids Day Know Your Status

The following statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are blunt reminders that HIV/AIDS is a sad reality among American Indians:

The rate, per 100,000 persons, of HIV/AIDS diagnosis for American Indians and Alaska Natives was 10.4, compared with 8.8 for whites.
Women accounted for 29 percent of the HIV/AIDS diagnoses among American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Statistics show that Natives survive for a shorter amount of time after an AIDS diagnosis than Whites, Hispanics, and Asians and Pacific Islanders.

World AIDS Day draws attention to the current status of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunoÂ¬deficiency syndrome, HIV/AIDS, epidemic worldwide. The theme for this year's observance on December 1 is Leading with Science, Uniting for Action.

The first cases of AIDS were reported 30 years ago in the June 5, 1981. Since then, the epidemic has claimed the lives of nearly 30 million persons worldÂ¬wide, and an estimated 34 million persons currently are living with HIV infection.

Global efforts, including the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, in which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an implementing partner, have resulted in an estimated 6.6 million persons in low-income and middle-income countries currently receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS at the end of 2010. Compared with 2009, this represents the largest ever annual increase in the number of persons accessing HIV treatment at 1.4 million.

In the United States, approximately 575,000 persons diagÂ¬nosed with AIDS have died since the first cases were reported 30 years ago, and approximately 50,000 persons become infected with HIV each year. An estimated 1.2 million persons in the United States are living with HIV infection.

Some reasons for the high HIV rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives include:

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) - HIV is most commonly spread to women through sexual contact. Untreated STIs that break the skin, such as genital herpes, give HIV easy access into the bloodstream. American Indians and Alaska Natives have high rates of STI.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse - People who abuse alcohol or drugs are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex. Alcohol and drug abuse are problems in many American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Poverty - Living in poverty is strongly linked to HIV risk. People living in poverty also get lower-quality health care in general, which can mean advancing from HIV infection to AIDS more quickly.
Cultural factors - Because the American Indian and Alaska Native population is so diverse, creating tailored prevention programs for each group is a challenge.

All people should know their HIV status.

The only sure way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. That's because you can have HIV and still feel healthy. Once you know your status, you can take steps to protect yourself and stop the spread of HIV:

Use latex condoms every time you have any kind of sex (vaginal, oral, or anal).
If you inject drugs and cannot or will not stop, do not share needles, syringes, or other items used to prepare drugs. Always use new, sterile syringes and needles. If you cannot get new ones, clean used ones with full-strength household bleach after each use. After unprotected sex, injection drug use is the next most common way that HIV is spread.

posted December 1, 2011 11:57 am est

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