STD Singles

Compromising lives

Black women have become so desensitized to chronic health statistics about us that we are paying scant attention to the details of public health campaigns. But this is one public health crisis that we can't afford to ignore. In addition to killing us, AIDS is seriously compromising the quality of the lives of our families and the vitality of our communities. In 2004, the rate of AIDS diagnoses for black women was 23 times the rate for white women.

We are most likely to be infected with HIV as a result of sex with men. Some may not be aware of their male partners' possible risks for HIV infection, such as unprotected sex with multiple partners, bisexuality, or drug needle use. In one HIV study, 34 percent of black men who have sex with men reported having had sex with women, even though only 6 percent of black women reported having had sex with a bisexual man.

It also seems that black females are not on the radar screen of politicians on either side of the aisle. During the last presidential election, candidates stumbled over their answers to questions about the devastation of HIV/AIDS on the black female community. When told that black women between the ages of 25 and 44 are 13 times more likely to die of the disease than their white counterparts, candidates had no clue how to address the issue.

This is why black women must keep this issue in the forefront of the public policy health agenda while taking responsibility for saving ourselves

Edie Corbin is president of the Delaware chapter, National Coalition of 100 Black Women and Valerie Trammel is a member of the organization.