A Need to Know

In the United States, African Americans at risk need to know if they are HIV positive to benefit from life-saving therapies and avoid infecting others. There is power in knowing your HIV status.

Watch or download the video.
( 3:26 mins)

Today, HIV and AIDS still pose a major threat to African American men, especially those who are having sex with other men. Despite improved testing, one in five Americans who are HIV positive remains undiagnosed each year and may be spreading HIV through sex or drug use, unaware of life-saving medications that offer a longer, healthier life. To promote HIV testing among African American men, CDC-TV has released a new video, "A Need to Know" in its "Health Matters" series.

About 1.1 million people in the US live with HIV while tens of thousands more become infected annually. Gay and bisexual black men of all ages are disproportionately affected. A 2005 study in five major cities found as many as 46% of African American men who have sex with men were HIV-positive. In recent years, 15% of new diagnoses are among young African-American men. Preventing new HIV infections is the only way to stop the epidemic.

Users can download the video or the podcast at CDC-TV, or they can access it on their mobile phones. Organizations can use the video in a number of ways, especially as an informational tool for policy makers as well as parents.

New "Health Matters" features are released at CDC-TV each month. The videos are produced in collaboration with CDC subject matter experts and are designed to provide insights into important health issues, information about CDC research and programs, and ways viewers can address the issues. Each feature includes links to related resources, so that users can find more information. Other CDC-TV content includes PSAs and innovative content, such as the animated Eagle Book series.

Providing high-quality, scientifically accurate videos is part of CDC's goal to provide health information to the public where, when, and how they need it to protect and promote their health. CDC’s health marketing efforts contribute to making the United States the healthiest nation it can be.  For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/CDCtv.