HIV and AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV weakens your immune system, which makes it hard for your body to fight off other health problems that it could normally resist. As time goes on, your body becomes less able to fight off diseases.

 

Today, women account for one out of every four new HIV cases in the U.S. Of these newly infected women, about two out of three are African American. Most of these women got HIV from having sex with a man.

 

African Americans who have AIDS die at younger ages than people in other groups who have AIDS. AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women ages 25-34.

 

Take these steps to protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms every time you have any kind of sex (vaginal, oral, or anal).
• If you use drugs and cannot or will not stop injecting drugs, use new, sterile syringes to prepare and inject drugs.
• If you're getting a tattoo or having your body pierced, ask what procedures they use to prevent the spread of HIV. If they do not use new, sterilized, or disinfected equipment, go somewhere else.

(The material above was excerpted from the WomensHealth.gov website)

 

The Black AIDS Institute

The Black AIDS Institute is a Black HIV/AIDS policy center dedicated to reducing HIV/AIDS health disparities by mobilizing Black institutions and individuals to confront the epidemic in our own communities.  The organization's motto describes a commitment to self-preservation: "Our People, Our Problem, Our Solution."  The Institute is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Los Angeles, California. The Institute has published an important, easy-to-read booklet for Black women:

•   Getting Real: Black Women Taking Charge in the Fight Against AIDS

  (Copyright © BAI)

The Washington State HIV/AIDS Hotline

800-272-AIDS (2437)

 

The CDC National AIDS Hotline

800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)

 

Public Health Seattle-King County's HIV/STD Hotline

206-205-STDS (7837)

 

 

HIV/AIDS FACTS

• HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet, Morehouse School of Medicine

• Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS among African Americans, Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

•   African Americans and HIV/AIDS (Copyright © Kaiser Family Foundation)

Testing

• National Testing Resources, Centers for Disease Control

 

Local Resources

• African American Reach and Teach Health

• People of Color Against AIDS Network

• Seattle/King County Public Health HIV/AIDS Program

State Resources

• HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education Services, State Dept. of Health

• Governor's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS

Regional Resources

• Northwest AIDS Education and Training Center

National Resources

• HIV/AIDS and African Americans, Centers for Disease Control

• HIV/AIDS and Women, Centers for Disease Control

• HIV/AIDS, African American Women's Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

• African American HIV/AIDS Program, American Red Cross

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