DeAnne
Mike CrowlAIDS Epidemic in Washington D.C. (LINK)
November 28th 2007 12:43
November 26, 2007
Fenty Administration Releases New Statistics on HIV/AIDS, Commits to Reverse Rates of Transmission
(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today announced the first-ever data on HIV in the District of Columbia and updated AIDS statistics last reported five years ago. Released to coincide with events leading up to World AIDS Day this Saturday, December 1, the statistics show striking findings on the severity of the District’s epidemic. The Mayor also announced steps to reduce the number of children born with HIV, increase testing and earlier treatment for people before they get sick, and respond to the disproportionate impact on women and the African-American community.
Among the findings of the District of Columbia Annual HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Report 2007 are that many District children are born with HIV at a time when medical treatment can prevent transmission from mother to child; many people learn their status late in their HIV disease; heterosexual contact leads to most new transmissions; women are a growing proportion of the epidemic; and African-American residents are the District’s hardest-hit community.
“This report gives us critical statistics on HIV and AIDS in our city and we must take advantage of this information with the sense of urgency that this epidemic deserves,” said Mayor Fenty. “Today, the District plans to build on our past efforts to aggressively work to reverse some of the trends that have plagued our community.”
The Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS Administration also announced several actions to address the challenges illustrated in the new statistics:
* By 2009, challenge all primary medical care, hospitals and emergency rooms to fully implement routine HIV testing.
* By 2009, eliminate mother-to-child transmission so that no babies will be born with HIV in the District. This will be accomplished by working with the District’s six hospitals and one community-based birthing center to implement routine HIV testing, to add third trimester repeat testing, to provide rapid testing at delivery, and to administer proper antiretroviral treatment to pregnant women.
* In 2008, launch more effective public awareness for increased testing, access to treatment and services and reduced risky behavior.
The major findings of the new statistics are:
* Between 1997 and 2006, almost 70 percent of all AIDS cases progressed from HIV to AIDS in less than 12 months after the initial HIV diagnosis, primarily due to late testing, compared to 39 percent nationally.
* The District accounted for 9 percent of all pediatric AIDS cases in the United States during 2005. Between 2001 and 2006, there were 56 children ages 13 or younger diagnosed with either HIV or AIDS in the District of Columbia.
* Although African-American residents account for 57 percent of the District’s population, they account for 81 percent of new reports of HIV cases. African-American women constitute 58 percent of the District’s female population, but account for 90 percent of all new female HIV cases.
* Heterosexual contact in the District is the leading mode of HIV transmission at 37 percent of newly reported infections, while nationally men who have sex with men lead new transmissions.
* The District’s rate for newly reported AIDS cases is higher than rates in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Detroit and Chicago.
* Nearly every ward in the District is impacted, though Wards 1, 5, 6, and 8 consistently had the highest numbers of residents diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.
* The majority of newly reported cases were among residents ages 30 to 49.
“Today’s new report on the District’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is not meant to sit on the shelf; it is a critical tool for every government official, community provider and District resident to fight this disease,” said Dr. Shannon L. Hader, senior deputy director, Department of Health HIV/AIDS Administration. “We in the District have a modern, large, and diverse HIV/AIDS epidemic that requires modern and innovative strategies to save lives, which will be achieved under Mayor Fenty’s leadership.”
Copies of the report can be requested by calling the HIV/AIDS Administration at (202) 671-4900. The report* and topic fact sheets are available on the HIV/AIDS website.
Learn more about the Mayor's strategies for reducing HIV transmission in the District (PDF).
Fenty Administration Releases New Statistics on HIV/AIDS, Commits to Reverse Rates of Transmission
(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today announced the first-ever data on HIV in the District of Columbia and updated AIDS statistics last reported five years ago. Released to coincide with events leading up to World AIDS Day this Saturday, December 1, the statistics show striking findings on the severity of the District’s epidemic. The Mayor also announced steps to reduce the number of children born with HIV, increase testing and earlier treatment for people before they get sick, and respond to the disproportionate impact on women and the African-American community.
Among the findings of the District of Columbia Annual HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Report 2007 are that many District children are born with HIV at a time when medical treatment can prevent transmission from mother to child; many people learn their status late in their HIV disease; heterosexual contact leads to most new transmissions; women are a growing proportion of the epidemic; and African-American residents are the District’s hardest-hit community.
“This report gives us critical statistics on HIV and AIDS in our city and we must take advantage of this information with the sense of urgency that this epidemic deserves,” said Mayor Fenty. “Today, the District plans to build on our past efforts to aggressively work to reverse some of the trends that have plagued our community.”
The Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS Administration also announced several actions to address the challenges illustrated in the new statistics:
* By 2009, challenge all primary medical care, hospitals and emergency rooms to fully implement routine HIV testing.
* By 2009, eliminate mother-to-child transmission so that no babies will be born with HIV in the District. This will be accomplished by working with the District’s six hospitals and one community-based birthing center to implement routine HIV testing, to add third trimester repeat testing, to provide rapid testing at delivery, and to administer proper antiretroviral treatment to pregnant women.
* In 2008, launch more effective public awareness for increased testing, access to treatment and services and reduced risky behavior.
The major findings of the new statistics are:
* Between 1997 and 2006, almost 70 percent of all AIDS cases progressed from HIV to AIDS in less than 12 months after the initial HIV diagnosis, primarily due to late testing, compared to 39 percent nationally.
* The District accounted for 9 percent of all pediatric AIDS cases in the United States during 2005. Between 2001 and 2006, there were 56 children ages 13 or younger diagnosed with either HIV or AIDS in the District of Columbia.
* Although African-American residents account for 57 percent of the District’s population, they account for 81 percent of new reports of HIV cases. African-American women constitute 58 percent of the District’s female population, but account for 90 percent of all new female HIV cases.
* Heterosexual contact in the District is the leading mode of HIV transmission at 37 percent of newly reported infections, while nationally men who have sex with men lead new transmissions.
* The District’s rate for newly reported AIDS cases is higher than rates in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Detroit and Chicago.
* Nearly every ward in the District is impacted, though Wards 1, 5, 6, and 8 consistently had the highest numbers of residents diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.
* The majority of newly reported cases were among residents ages 30 to 49.
“Today’s new report on the District’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is not meant to sit on the shelf; it is a critical tool for every government official, community provider and District resident to fight this disease,” said Dr. Shannon L. Hader, senior deputy director, Department of Health HIV/AIDS Administration. “We in the District have a modern, large, and diverse HIV/AIDS epidemic that requires modern and innovative strategies to save lives, which will be achieved under Mayor Fenty’s leadership.”
Copies of the report can be requested by calling the HIV/AIDS Administration at (202) 671-4900. The report* and topic fact sheets are available on the HIV/AIDS website.
Learn more about the Mayor's strategies for reducing HIV transmission in the District (PDF).
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