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Exploring Factors Associated with Declining HIV Diagnoses Among African American Females

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Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

HIV diagnoses among females in the USA declined 40% during 2005–2014 with the largest decline (42%) among Black/African Americans. African American females remain disproportionately affected. We explored contributions of STD rates and sexual risk behaviors among African American females, HIV diagnoses among potential male partners, and sexual risk behaviors and viral suppression rates among HIV-positive potential male partners to declining rates of HIV diagnoses among African American females. Results suggest temporal trends in the factors that increase HIV infectiousness and transmissibility within sexual networks, i.e., decreases in rates of other sexually transmitted infections among African American females, decreases in HIV diagnoses among potential male partners, and increases in viral suppression among heterosexual and bisexual HIV-positive potential male partners in care, may explain the decline. Findings highlight a need for future research that provides context to the sexual risk behaviors and sexual network factors in order to continue progress.

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Acknowledgements

This paper was a product of an ad hoc Workgroup formed to investigate factors associated with declining rates of HIV among African American females. We thank Dr. Eugene McCray, Director, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for his support and guidance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE MS D-21, 30333, Atlanta, Georgia

    Donna Hubbard McCree, William L. Jeffries IV, Linda Beer, Zanetta Gant, Kimberlee Elmore & Madeline Sutton

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  1. Donna Hubbard McCree
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  2. William L. Jeffries IV
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  3. Linda Beer
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  4. Zanetta Gant
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  5. Kimberlee Elmore
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  6. Madeline Sutton
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Correspondence to Donna Hubbard McCree.

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The findings and conclusions of this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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McCree, D.H., Jeffries, W.L., Beer, L. et al. Exploring Factors Associated with Declining HIV Diagnoses Among African American Females. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 5, 598–604 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-017-0405-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-017-0405-6

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