HIV/AIDS Among African-Born Residents in the United States

• Published in: Journal of immigrant and minority health Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 718 - 724
• Main Authors: Blanas, Demetri A., Nichols, Kim, Bekele, Mulusew, Lugg, Amanda, Kerani, Roxanne P., Horowitz, Carol R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer Science + Business Media 01.08.2013; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adult; Africa - ethnology; African Americans; Aged; AIDS; Attrition (Research Studies); Blacks; Case Studies; Communicable Diseases; Comparative Law; Data analysis; Diagnosis; Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data; Epidemiology; Female; Females; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health surveillance; Heterosexuality; Heterosexuals; HIV; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immigrants; Immigration; Infection; International & Foreign Law; Male; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Mortality; Noncitizens; ORIGINAL PAPER; Population; Private International Law; Public Health; Sex Factors; Sexual Orientation; Sociology; Statistical analysis; Studies; Surveillance; United States; United States - epidemiology; Urban Areas; Women; Womens health; United States; Africa; United States > US; AIDS; HIV; Immigrants; African
• ISSN: 1557-1912; 1557-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s10903-012-9691-6

The number of African-born residents living in the United States (US) increased by more than 750 % between 1980 and 2009. HIV diagnosis rates in this population are six times higher than estimated incidence in the general US population. African-immigrants with HIV are also diagnosed at later stages of infection than US-born residents, but they paradoxically have lower mortality after diagnosis. There are higher rates of HIV among women, higher rates of heterosexual transmission, and lower rates of injection-drug-use-associated transmission among African-born residents in the US relative to the general US population. Despite this distinct epidemiologic profile, surveillance reports often group African-born residents with US-born Blacks. The high rates of HIV among African-born residents in the US combined with increasing immigration and incomplete surveillance data highlight the need for more accurate epidemiologic data along with appropriate HIV service programs.