Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

During 2001–2004, the estimated annual number of cases of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficieny syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among blacks decreased in the 33 states with long-term, confidential, name-based HIV reporting (1). However, the impact of HIV among blacks remained disproportionately high compared with other racial/ethnic populations. Blacks made up approximately 13 % of the population in the 33 reporting states yet accounted for approximately 49 % of persons who had a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS (1). Of the estimated 1 million persons living with HIV/AIDS in the United States at the end of 2003, nearly half (47%) were black (1). AIDS is a leading cause of death for blacks, who die sooner after AIDS…