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People
living with HIV disease are, on average, poorer
than the general population, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS
Program clients are poorer still. For them, the
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is the payor of last
resort because they are uninsured or have inadequate
insurance and cannot cover the costs of care on
their own, and because no other source of payment
for services, public or private, is available.
Most Ryan White clients are from a racial or ethnic
minority group. In 2006, more than 70% of clients
served by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program were
people of color. In 2006, 66% of clients were
male and 33% were female.
ON
THIS PAGE:
| African-Americans |
| Despite
improvements to reduce health disparities
and increase access to HIV prevention,
counseling and testing, and treatment
services, African-Americans' share of
the U.S. HIV/AIDS burden continues to
be disproportionate to their representation
in the total population. |
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| Asian/Pacific Islander |
|
The
term "Asian/Pacific Islander"
(A/PI) is used to refer to approximately
50 ethnic subgroups, representing
more than 100 languages. A/PIs are
concentrated in several parts of the
country, particularly the west coast,
the New York City metropolitan area,
and Hawaii.
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| The Deaf of Hard of Hearing |
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The
deaf and hard of hearing exist within
a unique and vibrant culture, a fact
not always Appreciated by hearing
individuals. Many advocates believe
that recognition by the hearing public
that a deaf culture exists is a crucial
first step toward educating the Nation
about the needs of the deaf and hard
of hearing who are living with HIV.
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| Hispanics |
| Hispanics
are the largest and fastest-growing
U.S. minority group at 45.5 million
in 2007. Hispanic populations are served
through all parts of the Ryan White
HIV/AIDS Program and accounted for 21
percent of all Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
clients in 2006. People who are Hispanic
shoulder a highly disproportionate burden
of HIV/AIDS in the United States. Many
Hispanics face signifi cant barriers
to health information, HIV counseling
and testing, and care. Poverty, language
differences, lack of health insurance,
and cultural issues are critical factors. |
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| Men Who Have Sex With Men / Men of Color Who Have Sex With Men |
| Since
the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in
the United States, AIDS incidence has
been highest among men who have sex
with men (MSM). Despite changes in the
demographics of the epidemic and the
growing proportion of total cases in
women, Most new AIDS cases for which
male-to-male sexual contact is the HIV
transmission category are now among
MSM of color, who face extraordinary
barriers to HIV counseling and testing
and care. |
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| American Indians and Alaska Natives |
| American
Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs)
make up 0.8 percent of the U.S. population
and comprise hundreds of tribes and
cultures. More than one-half of all
AI/ANs live in just 10 States; Arizona,
Oklahoma, and California have the largest
AI/AN populations. Historically, AI/AN
populations have suffered high rates
of a range of health problems, reflecting
widespread poor access to health information
and care. |
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| Youth |
| In
the United States, almost all new AIDS
cases diagnosed in children under age
13 result from perinatal transmission
of HIV. Although new HIV infections
among infants have dropped dramatically
since the introduction of zidovudine
(AZT-based regimens in 1995, perinatal
transmission continues to occur, often
because HIV-positive pregnant women
do not receive appropriate prenatal
care and HIV counseling and testing.
Transmission most commonly occurs during
gestation (in utero), during labor and
delivery (intrapartum), and during breastfeeding. |
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| Substance Abuse |
| The
spread of HIV disease in the United
States is fueled in part by the use
of illicit drugs. Injection drug use
(IDU) is directly related to HIV transmission
because it may involve the sharing of
drug equipment. The use of both injected
and noninjected illicit drugs impairs
decision making and increases sexual
risktaking behavior, which, in turn,
increases the risk for acquiring HIV. |
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| Women |
| Rates
of U.S. HIV/AIDS cases in women are
slowly beginning to decrease after years
of growth, but an extraordinarily high
number of cases persist among racial
and ethnic minorities. In addition to
facing the challenges of living with
HIV and adhering to treatment, women
living with HIV often are primary caregivers
for children and aging parents. |
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| Pediatrics |
| Approximately
one-fourth of all HIV infections occur
in people age 21 and younger-a segment
of the population that is among the
most medically underserved. Most HIV-infected
youth are asymptomatic, unaware they
are infected, and not enrolled in treatment. |
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Source:
2008
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Folder w/ Fact Sheets
Additional
information on the evolving epidemic, data on
client demographics, programs, services, as well
as individual stories of Ryan White clients whose
lives have been affected by the disease, can be
found in the Ryan
White Progress Reports.
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