A Statistical Analysis of AIDS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

A Statistical Analysis of AIDS - Research Paper Example The number of individuals acquiring the disease is also increasing. The growing concern today however, lies on the mounting difference in the number of African Americans and their White counterparts being infected or even dying from the disease. Women in particular, have constantly become the subject of people’s concerns regarding the matter of AIDS. This paper aims to present and discuss the statistics regarding the disparity between Blacks and Whites being diagnosed with AIDS. Moreover, the factors affecting this disparity will be presented. The importance of the role of the government in addressing this issue will be discussed and finally, a conclusion will be provided. The Statistics of AIDS in the United States In past statistics, African Americans were found to constitute the majority of individuals infected with AIDS1, 2. In the Black population, males comprised two-thirds or about 65% of new infections3. Furthermore, the rate at which Black men acquire new HIV infectio n is 6 times higher than White men and 2 times higher than black women4. On the other hand, the rate at which Black women acquire new HIV infection is 15 times higher than White women.5As such, the rate of death is also expected to be higher among Black women. Black females have a lower rate of infection in comparison to Black males. However, Black females are more affected by the disease in comparison to women from other races.6The large scale of Black womenbeing infected with, as well as dyingfrom AIDS has attracted attention from different areas and departments of the society. More so since there is yet to be a clear decline in the mortality rates of AIDS-infected African-American womenwhereas mortality rates of AIDS-infected White women have continually decreased. Ethnic disparities concerning HIV/AIDS infection and mortality are consistent in all states.7Figure 1 below presents a comparison of HIV/AIDS mortalities between Black and White populations in the United States. The hu ge difference between the races is evident except perhaps among the 15- to 24-year-old age group where the statistics were almost the same if not, slightly different. Figure 2 below presents the gender and racial comparisons with regards to new cases of HIV infectionin Massachusetts. The large disparity between Black females and White females as well as the large difference between the number of White males and Black males getting infected with AIDS are evident. According to Cole, Church, Fukuda et al.,8the percentage of Black women who have acquired HIV in the year 2006 – 2008 is 51% as compared to 20% of White women. This shows that Black women have almost twice the risk of acquiring the disease as compared to White women. However, it is also shown that from 2006 – 2008, White men have a higher percentage of new infections compared to Black malesin Massachusetts.This could be attributed to gay activities; however, not well-defined. In 2007, it has been reported that HIV was the third leading cause of mortality for black men and women aged 35-44.9 HIV also became the ninth leading cause of mortality for all blacks.10 In fact, about 233,624 Blacks who were diagnosed with AIDS had died in the United States.11 Moreover, African American women were known to be 22 times more likely to die