Course Description: African Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses, those living with HIV and those ever diagnosed with AIDS, compared to other races and ethnicities.  In 2015, African Americans accounted for 45% of HIV diagnoses, though they comprise only 12% of the US population.  This course discusses fast facts about HIV among African Americans, detailing prevention challenges and what the CDC is doing to address these challenges.  Also included is a discussion of HIV among African American gay and bisexual men, and a CDC fact sheet on trends in HIV Incidence in the United States.

This course is based upon material published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is available as an open access article.

This course on HIV among African Americans is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work.  This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their understanding of the African American HIV experience.  The course material includes a review of trends in the diagnosis of HIV for heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual African Americans.  It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal.  

Sources:  National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding HIV among African Americans.  Specifically, a professional will:

• Describe the incidence of HIV in the African American community
• Identify prevention challenges for gay and bisexual African American men
• Recognize the effect of behavioral risk on HIV testing outcomes

Citation:  DiDona, T. (2018) compiled from multiple sources from the CDC, National Center for HIV/AIDS and NIH.  HIV among African Americans.